Los Alamitos: El Aguila Real wins Vessels Maturity

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. - El Aguila Real strengthened his status as the leading older male at Los Alamitos with a convincing win in Sunday’s $200,000 Vessels Maturity.

Earlier this year, El Aguila Real won the Los Alamitos Winter Championship in February. Both races hold automatic berths for the winner to the $750,000 Champion of Champions in December, which could be El Aguila Real’s next start, according to trainer Francisco Vallejo.

El Aguila Real is owned by Javier Molina of Guadalaraja, Mexico, who purchased the 4-year-old privately after the Los Alamitos Winter Championship for an undisclosed sum.

In the Vessels Maturity over 400 yards, El Aguila Real ($4.40) broke well under jockey Eduardo Nicasio and led throughout, winning by a half-length over Senor Toby. Pk Fire, the fastest qualifier from the June 17 time trials, finished third in the field of 10.

The race was marred by the breakdown of 25-1 Reina Del Fuego shortly after the finish. Reina Del Fuego finished eighth.

El Aguila Real has won 8 of 17 starts and $291,616. A gelding by Corona Czech, El Aguila Real won the Southern California Derby last December.