My Game Plan airs in Maiden Stakes after favorite runs off and is scratched

CYPRESS, Calif. - My Game Plan remained unbeaten in three starts this year with an easy win in Sunday’s $98,250 Los Alamitos Maiden Stakes, but only after the gelding assumed the role of favorite when Rocket Seventeen ran off before the start.

As the field was nearly set, Rocket Seventeen unseated jockey Ruben Lozano, broke through the gate and ran down the racetrack alone. He was collected by an outrider on the backstretch, and immediately withdrawn.

At the time, Rocket Seventeen was the even-money favorite, while My Game Plan was the 9-5 second choice. When the field was reassembled, My Game Plan had inherited the role of favorite.

Ridden by Armando Cervantes, My Game Plan ($3.20) led throughout the 350-yard race, winning by 1 1/4 lengths over 7-1 Glass Ceiling. Da Special One (9-1) and El Best Tornado (13-1) finished in a dead-heat for third in a field of eight.

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My Game Plan was timed in 17.52 seconds.

The Maiden Stakes was restricted to horses who had not won a race as of Nov. 1, 2021.

My Game Plan was winless in four starts last July and August before he was rested by owners and breeders Ed and Von Zae McNelis of Idaho and trainer Monty Arrossa. My Game Plan returned to racing in January, winning a 300-yard maiden race on Jan. 9 and a time trial for the Maiden Stakes on Feb. 6.

My Game Plan has won 3 of 7 starts and earned $50,733.

The McNelises and Arrossa were already having a successful February before the Maiden Stakes. On Feb. 19, their Scoops Dynasty won the $212,000 Los Alamitos Winter Derby.

Cervantes and Arrossa have won two other stakes in recent weekend programs. On Feb. 20, they teamed to win the $152,700 Brad McKinzie Los Alamitos Winter Championship with Apollitical Pence. Saturday, they won the $35,000 Denim N Diamonds Handicap with Jet Wings One.