Reason to Fly Mv punches ticket to Champion of Champions in Vessels Handicap

Reason to Fly Mv, a close second in two major races in the last year, won her first stakes in Sunday’s $125,000 Mildred Vessels Handicap for Quarter Horse fillies and mares at Los Alamitos, a victory that will change her career direction in coming months.

With the win, Reason to Fly Mv receives a berth to the $600,000 Champion of Champions on Dec. 11, the nation’s leading race for older horses.

Ridden by Cruz Mendez, Reason to Fly Mv ($31.80) ran 400 yards in 19.88 seconds, closing from fourth in a field of 10 to win by a head over 8-1 Kiss Thru Fire.

Apollitical Patty, the 3-5 favorite, was fussy in the starting gate, but broke sharply and led by a length midway through the race. Apollitical Patty could not sustain the lead, fading to finish third, beaten slightly less than a half-length.

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Reason to Fly Mv and Apollitical Patty were two of six 3-year-old fillies in the Mildred Vessels, the track’s richest race for older fillies and mares.

Reason to Fly Mv was second in the Pacific Coast Quarter Horse Racing Association Breeders’ Futurity last October at Los Alamitos and second by a head in the Golden State Derby on Aug. 15.

Trained by Jose Flores, Reason to Fly Mv has won 4 of 8 starts and earned $172,904 for owner and breeder Paulo Otavio Freire Macedo of Brazil.