Heza Dasha Fire dominant in Go Man Go Handicap

Heza Dasha Fire, the 2015 World Champion Quarter Horse, was the easy winner of Sunday’s $100,000 Go Man Go Handicap at Los Alamitos, assuming command of the nation’s older horse division in advance of the major races this fall.

The Go Man Go Handicap was Heza Dasha Fire’s first start since a second to Moonist in the Los Alamitos Winter Championship in February. Heza Dasha Fire was taken out of training following that race to have a bone chip removed from a knee.

The Go Man Go Handicap was the first race of a comeback designed to have the 4-year-old gelding ready for the $600,000 Champion of Champions at Los Alamitos on Dec. 10, the leading race for older horses. Heza Dasha Fire beat Moonist in the 2015 Champion of Champions.

Moonist died in June after complications from colic surgery.

Heza Dasha Fire ($2.60) was timed in 19.36 seconds in the Go Man Go Handicap.

Ridden by Cruz Mendez, Heza Dasha Fire broke well from the outside post in a field of nine and was quickly in front. Heza Dasha Fire led by two lengths midway through the 400-yard race and won by that margin over Bh Lisas Boy.

Bh Lisas Boy, the winner of the California Challenge Championship at Los Alamitos on Aug. 14, finished a length clear of Viente Negro, the longest shot in the field at 46-1.

Heza Dasha Fire, by Walk Thru Fire, has won 12 of 15 starts and earned $1,761,487 for Don, Kathy, and Shawn Meneely of Kennewick, Wash., and trainer Jose Flores.