Cartel Kisses holds off Candys Special Power in Los Alamitos Oaks
Cartel Kisses repelled a mid-race threat from Candys Special Power to win Saturday’s $461,500 Los Alamitos Oaks at Los Alamitos, Quarter Horse racing’s richest race for 3-year-old fillies.
Ridden by Rodrigo Vallejo, Cartel Kisses ($7.40) broke well from post 7 and held a narrow advantage early over 9-2 Candys Special Power. Midway through the 400-yard race, Candys Special Power was a head in front, but was unable to get any farther in front. There was little between Cartel Kisses and Candys Special Power in the final 100 yards before Cartel Kisses prevailed by a nose, finishing in 19.76 seconds.
Candys Special Power finished a half-length in front of 50-1 Mid Knight Flash in the field of 10. Quirky Bitty Jess, the 5-2 favorite, finished last after a slow start from post 10.
Cartel Kisses has won 9 of 12 starts and earned $399,283. The Los Alamitos Oaks was the first major win for Cartel Kisses since the $100,000 Rainbow Juvenile at Ruidoso Downs last July, the consolation of the $1 million Rainbow Futurity.
Cartel Kisses, who races for Larry and Bobbie Rice and trainer Heath Taylor, was later third in the $381,695 Black Gold Oaks Championship at Will Rogers Downs in Oklahoma last November, the sport’s richest race for 2-year-old fillies.
Taylor and the Rices said in the winner’s circle that Cartel Kisses will start later this spring and summer in stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Remington Park and Ruidoso Downs.
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