La Jaconde gives trainer Gomez eighth win in Kindergarten Futurity

La Jaconde overcame a slow start to win Sunday’s $279,200 Robert Adair Kindergarten Futurity at Los Alamitos, giving trainer Jaime Gomez a record eighth win in the Kindergarten Futurity, the first stakes of the year for 2-year-old Quarter Horses in Southern California.

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La Jaconde, the fastest qualifier from the May 3 trials, bumped with La Reina Del Sur 1 to her inside at the start, and trailed by more than a half-length midway through the 300-yard race. In the final 100 yards, La Jaconde ($8.20) responded well to urging from jockey Oscar Pienado to win by a head over 4-5 favorite Jet Wings One.

La Jaconde was timed in 15.47 seconds. Unstoppable One (17-1) finished third in the field of eight.

Owned by Balgo Racing Team Inc., La Jaconde earned $117,264 and has earned $121,039 by winning two of her first three starts. La Jaconde, a filly by Favorite Cartel, was second in a maiden special weight race at 300 yards on April 17 to Jet Wings One before winning a division of the Kindergarten trials in 15.48 seconds.

Gomez, 69, surpassed the late Blane Schvaneveldt on the list of all-time Kindergarten wins. Gomez won the Kindergarten for the first time in 1996 with Corona Cartel. Sunday’s win was his first in the race since Twin Spires in 2009.