Go Man Go Handicap favorites vulnerable

Chocolatito and Powerful Favorite are two of the leading runners in Sunday’s $100,000 Go Man Go Handicap at Los Alamitos, but could be vulnerable in a deep field.

Chocolatito won the Vessels Maturity on July 5, but missed a start in the Spencer Childers Handicap on July 26 when he was withdrawn the day of the race for veterinary reasons. Chocolatito subsequently worked 220 yards in 12.80 seconds on Aug. 15.

Powerful Favorite, winner of three leading derbies at Los Alamitos last year, won a time trial for the Vessels Maturity in June, but bled in the race and was not entered in the final. He has had two workouts at 220 yards since early July.

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The winner of the Go Man Go Handicap receives an automatic berth to the $600,000 Champion of Champions on Dec. 12. Chocolatito earned a berth with his win in the Vessels Maturity and will be favored in the Go Man Go Handicap at 400 yards.

Chocolatito will be ridden for the first time by Oscar Andrade Jr. Andrade replaces Vinnie Bednar, who suffered a spinal cord injury in a spill Aug. 22 and underwent surgery last Sunday.

Chocolatito, owned by Los Alamitos track chairman Ed Allred and trained by Scott Willoughby, has won 8 of 16 starts. Four other runners in the field have more career victories, an indication of the strength of the field.

Powerful Favorite, trained by Chris O’Dell for Connie Rosenthal, has won 11 of 20 starts. He has yet to win a stakes this year, having finished third in the Brad McKinzie Los Alamitos Winter Championship in February as the 4-5 favorite.

Zoomin for Spuds, a winner of 14 of 42 starts, and Jesstacartel, who has won 9 of 18 starts, have not raced since they finished seventh and eighth behind eventual world champion He Looks Hot in the Champion of Champions last December.

Zoomin for Spuds, trained by Monty Arrossa, is winless in five starts since the 2019 Los Alamitos Winter Championship. A 7-year-old, Zoomin for Spuds won the 2016 Champion of Champions, the year he was honored as champion 3-year-old gelding.

Jesstacartel, best known for winning the 2018 Los Alamitos Super Derby, is trained by Mike Robbins. Previous trainer Mark Skeen disbanded his Los Alamitos stable last winter to return to his Utah home.

The field includes Jess Macho Corona and Mister Appolitical, who were second and third in the Vessels Maturity. Mister Appolitical, a winner of 9 of 15 starts, was the 3-2 favorite in the Vessels and was beaten 1 1/2 lengths. He will need a sharp performance to win the Go Man Go Handicap.