Desmond Doss edges Fashionably Fast in Bertrando Stakes
CYPRESS, Calif. - The California-bred veterans Desmond Doss and Fashionably Fast finished first and second for the second consecutive stakes in Saturday’s $100,000 Bertrando Stakes at Los Alamitos.
While Desmond Doss won the Thor’s Echo Stakes at six furlongs for statebreds by 2 1/4 lengths over Fashionably Fast at Santa Anita on May 28, the margin in the Bertrando Stakes for statebreds at a mile was only three-quarters of a length.
Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Desmond Doss ($3) was timed in 1:36.31, winning the Bertrando for the second consecutive year. Fashionably Fast did not start in the 2021 Bertrando.
Desmond Doss earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 86.
On Saturday, Desmond Doss was always near the front. Loud Mouth set the pace through an opening quarter-mile in 24.20 seconds, closely followed by Desmond Doss, who led through a half-mile in 47.14.
Fashionably Fast (3-1) reached contention with a three-wide move on the turn. Desmond Doss led by a half-length over Loud Mouth in early stretch before that rival faded from contention. Fashionably Fast raced within a half-length of Desmond Doss in the stretch, but could not get any closer.
“He broke really sharp and I let him do his thing,” Hernandez said. “I was waiting for the quarter-pole because this is a long stretch. When I turned him loose, he responded.”
Fashionably Fast, supplemented to the Bertrando for $2,000 on Wednesday, finished six lengths clear of 10-1 Irish Heatwave in third. Loud Mouth was last in the field of four. Johnny Podres was withdrawn early Saturday.
Desmond Doss, a 6-year-old horse by Grazen, races for owner and breeder Nick Alexander and is trained by Steve Miyadi. Desmond Doss has won 7 of 19 starts and earned $422,341.