Last Call London catches Stolen Treasure late to win King Glorious Stakes

CYPRESS, Calif. - Racing without blinkers for the first time, Last Call London fought past a stubborn leader in Stolen Treasure to win Sunday’s $101,000 King Glorious Stakes on the final day of the Los Alamitos December meeting.

The King Glorious, run at a mile for 2-year-old statebreds, was a race worth seeing.

Stolen Treasure set a comfortable pace of 24.36 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 48.67 for a half-mile, with Last Call London following within a length in second.

Last Call London, ridden by Juan Hernandez, engaged 7-2 Stolen Treasure, ridden by Edwin Maldonado, in early stretch, with the pair racing side by side before Last Call London prevailed by a neck.

“Juan gave him a great ride,” winning trainer Peter Miller said. Stolen Treasure “was tough to run down,” he said.

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Maldonado was left frustrated by the narrow loss. He rode Stolen Treasure to a win in a maiden race at a mile on turf for statebreds at Del Mar on Dec. 1 and nearly had the same result on Sunday.

“I can’t give any excuses,” Maldonado said. “He ran so good.”

Last Call London ($6) was timed in 1:38.15 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 67.

Mici’s Express finished third as the 9-5 favorite, beaten 5 1/4 lengths. The remaining order of finish was Stay On the Fence, Gentlemen’s Club, Clever Closer and Size Does Matter.

Last Call London, by Stay Thirsty, has won 2 of 8 starts and earned $156,870. The King Glorious Stakes was his fifth consecutive appearance in a stakes, all since early July.

Last Call London was second by a head in the Graduation Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 11, and third by a half-length in the I’m Smokin Stakes there on Sept. 8. Last Call London surprised Miller with a seventh-place finish in a field of 12 in the Golden State Juvenile Stakes at Santa Anita on Nov. 3.

“That was a puzzler,” Miller said. “I thought he’d win, but he didn’t show. He showed up today.”

Last Call London races for a partnership that includes Terry Lovingier, who bred the gelding, along with Tom London and Eugene Zondlo.

Miller mentioned the $200,000 California Cup Derby for statebred 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita on Jan. 13 as an early winter goal for Last Call London.

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