Desmond Doss' next start likely in California Dreamin'

CYPRESS, Calif. - California owner and breeder Nick Alexander and his family had an eventful sporting double in the Los Angeles area on Saturday.

Desmond Doss won the first stakes of his career for Alexander in Saturday’s $100,000 Bertrando Stakes at Los Alamitos for California-bred milers.

Alexander left Los Alamitos shortly after the Bertrando, bound for Dodger Stadium to watch the Dodgers beat the Chicago Cubs, 3-2, on a ninth-inning walk-off home run by Cody Bellinger.

On Sunday, Alexander was back at his ranch in the Santa Ynez Valley, a few hours north of Los Angeles, and in the midst of a full day of work.

“I’ve got a few pastures to mow,” he said at midday.

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Desmond Doss started in his seventh stakes in the Bertrando Stakes, closing from fourth to win as the 8-5 favorite by a half-length over 27-1 Tom’s Surprise.

“In the paddock, he was on his toes and he looked better than he has ever looked before,” Alexander said. “It looked like he was ready to take care of business.”

Trained by Steve Miyadi, Desmond Doss has won 5 of 14 starts and has earned $289,091. The Bertrando was the second consecutive win by Desmond Doss, preceded by an allowance race against open company at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita on June 5.

Alexander said Desmond Doss is likely to start in the $150,000 California Dreamin' Stakes for statebreds at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Del Mar on July 25.

“That looks like the way it will go,” Alexander said.

Alexander has a small stable of homebreds in Southern California, including three starters on Friday’s eight-race program at Los Alamitos.

The 2-year-old fillies Busker Allie and Connie Swingle will have their first starts in the first and fourth races for California-bred maidens at five furlongs, while George Herman Ruth starts in an allowance race at a mile in the seventh race, his first race on dirt. All are trained by Phil D’Amato.

Connie Swingle is a full sister to the five-time stakes winner S Y Sky, who earned $709,540 racing for Alexander. Busker Allie is a full sister to George Herman Ruth.

Later this summer, the 3-year-old filly Iva Toguri will have her debut for D’Amato. Iva Toguri is a full sister to the Alexander stable’s three-time winner Althea Gibson, who has earned $125,914.

“Phil is pretty excited about her,” Alexander said.