Jazzing Chad ready to step up

Trainer Daryn Charlton will find out whether either member of his entry of Jazzing Chad and Breakers is ready to move up in the Los Alamitos 870-yard division when they start in the $20,000 The Moonshiner Handicap on Saturday night.

Jazzing Chad is positioned to make that move after showing improvement in his two starts since returning from a layoff. In his comeback, Jazzing Chad had a troubled start in the 550-yard Paul Ford Handicap on Dec. 18 and was unable to recover, finishing nearly four lengths behind the sharp Gold Medal Jess.

Charlton brought him back in an 870-yard allowance race, and Jazzing Chad pulled away from a field similar in quality to The Moonshiner to win by 1 1/2 lengths.

Before his layoff, Jazzing Chad showed he belonged in the 870-yard stakes ranks when he was second in the Grade 3 Gold Rush Derby after making a three-wide rally to get within two lengths of multiple 870-yard stakes winner Takin Cash Bac.

Breakers made his first start in four months in a $20,000 claiming race on Jan. 13 and ran past three horses in the final 50 yards to finish second, two lengths behind Easy Swinger. In 2005, he was second in the Stars N Stripes Handicap and fourth in the Gold Rush Derby.

The Thoroughbred horse Olympic Moment is returning to Los Alamitos after winning the Murrtheblurr Stakes at Turf Paradise. He won the 4 1/2-furlong stakes on the turf by going to the lead and then pulling away in the lane by three lengths. Two starts back he won a $20,000 claiming race at Los Alamitos going 870 yards.

Shy Anns Trust has not won a race since 2003, but had two runner-up efforts in 870-yard stakes behind Takin Cash Bac before being rested for 10 weeks. He was beaten by 2 1/2 lengths in the Grade 3 Pat Hyland Handicap and three lengths in the Lone Star Stakes.

Ocean Runaway repeats

Ocean Runaway was named the 2005 Pacific Coast Quarter Horse Racing Association horse of the year for the second straight year on Tuesday night.

A 3-year-old in 2005, Ocean Runaway won the Champion of Champions and the Grade 2 PCQHRA Breeders Derby, and established a Los Alamitos 400-yard track record. He is also the national champion 3-year-old colt.

Higher Fire, the 2005 champion 2-year-old, was named the PCQHRA champion 2-year-old filly. Her owner and breeder, Dutch Masters III, was honored as the PCQHRA champion owner and breeder. Dutch Masters III, which comprises Dr. James Streelman and Denny Boer, was also the national champion owner and breeder in 2005.

Champions raised to $1 million

The Grade 1 Champion of Champions will become Quarter Horse racing's first $1 million race for older runners in 2007. This year, the purse will be $600,000 for the Dec. 9 running.

The Champion of Champions will be the fourth stakes at Los Alamitos to offer a purse of $1 million or more, joining the Los Alamitos Two Million, Golden State Million, and Ed Burke Million.