Ilushion Eagle seeks fourth straight win in Los Alamitos Maiden Stakes

CYPRESS, Calif. - Ilushion Eagle will be an odds-on favorite to win his fourth consecutive race in Sunday’s $101,250 Los Alamitos Maiden Stakes at 350 yards and continue a streak that began a week before Christmas.

In a sign of how well regarded Ilushion Eagle is held, trainer Jaime Gomez hopes to take the gelding to Ruidoso Downs this summer for the All American Derby before returning to Southern California for the Los Alamitos Super Derby in the fall.

The Maiden Stakes is an ideal fit for the improving Ilushion Eagle, who races for Salome Gallegos. The race is restricted to 3-year-olds who were maidens as of Dec. 1. Ilushion Eagle won a maiden race in his sixth start on Dec. 18, an allowance race on Jan. 10, and a division of the Maiden Stakes trials on Jan. 31.

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In the time trials, Ilushion Eagle was timed in 17.41 seconds, winning by two lengths at 7-10. He could be about the same price in Sunday’s final.

“This horse is a real horse,” Gomez said last weekend. “He ran impressively last time.

“He’s a pet. He lays down all day long. He relaxes. He’s super smart.”

Oscar Peinado, who was aboard for wins in the allowance race and time trials, has the mount. Ilushion Eagle breaks from the outside post in a field of 10.

Ilushion Eagle was winless in four starts at Ruidoso Downs last year, when trained by Wes Giles, and was second at 80-1 in a division of the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity trials in his first start for Gomez.

Outta Dodge, trained by Jose Flores, will be the second choice on the strength of a two-race winning streak in a maiden race on Dec. 5 and a division of the Maiden Stakes time trials.

Ilushion Eagle set the fastest qualifying time in the Maiden Stakes time trials. Outta Dodge had the second-fastest time of 17.56 seconds.