Be a Bono best in Spencer Childers Handicap

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. - Be a Bono, the reigning Quarter Horse of the Year, defended his title in a stakes named after his 93-year-old owner in Saturday's $153,514 Spencer Childers Handicap at Los Alamitos.

Ridden by G.R. Carter, Be a Bono ($3.40) ran 400 yards in 19.48 seconds, beating Catchmeinyourdreams by a neck. Owned by Childers and trained by Dan Francisco, Be a Bono has won 10 of 13 starts and $990,662.

There were three other major stakes on a 14-race program dedicated to California-breds.

Finding Nemo ($3) won the $406,000 Governor's Cup Futurity by a nose over Ynot Bar, finishing 350 yards in 17.35 seconds.

Apollitcal Time ($3.60) recorded her seventh consecutive win in the $125,500 Governor's Cup Derby. She won by three-quarters of a length over Lindas Dasher, finishing 400 yards in 19.46 seconds.

In the $51,570 Matron Stakes, Mini Rock ($3.60) won her first start since January by one length over Rubiate. Blane Schvaneveldt trains Mini Rock.