Los Alamitos: Last to Fire much the best in Champion of Champions

CYPRESS, Calif. - Last to Fire is expected to be named 2013 World Champion Running Quarter Horse after winning his third consecutive Grade 1 race of the year in Saturday’s $750,000 Champion of Champions at Los Alamitos.

Ridden by Eduardo Nicasio, Last to Fire ($5.80) scored a commanding win by 1 1/4 lengths over 10-1 Rylees Boy, the winner of the 2012 Champion of Champions. Last to Fire ran 440 yards in 21.09 seconds.

Matabari, a 3-year-old filly who won the Los Alamitos Super Derby last month, finished third in the field of 10, 1 3/4 lengths behind Last to Fire. Ochoa, the 9-5 favorite, was away slowly and never recovered, finishing seventh.

A 4-year-old gelding by Walk Thru Fire, Last to Fire ended 2013 with wins in the Grade 1 Vessels Maturity in July and the Grade 1 Go Man Go Handicap in September, his final start before the Champion of Champions.

Last to Fire races for Jesus Avila and Jesus Cuevas and is trained by Jose de la Torre. After the Champion of Champions, the owners and trainer said that Last to Fire would be rested over the winter, with the 2014 Vessels Maturity as the first goal next year.

Last to Fire has won 8 of 19 starts and $1,087,545.