Scratches pave the way for Famous Shining Star's win in Charger Bar

CYPRESS, Calif. -- Famous Shining Star won her third stakes in the last year in Sunday’s $100,000 Charger Bar Handicap for Quarter Horse fillies and mares at Los Alamitos, an assignment made considerably easier by the withdrawals of two leading contenders in Kiss Thru Fire and Pattys Saint.

Kiss Thru Fire, the champion aged mare of 2021 and winner of the 2021 and 2022 Charger Bar Handicaps, was scratched by the stewards during the post parade on advice of a veterinarian. Pattys Saint, the winner of the $125,000 Mildred Vessels Handicap for fillies and mares in September, was scratched earlier on Sunday on advice of a veterinarian.

Famous Shining Star ($37.60) led throughout the Charger Bar at 400 yards, winning by three-quarters of a length over 24-1 College Scandal. Sweet Tess (9-1) finished third in a field of eight. Nympette, the 9-10 favorite, finished fifth after a troubled start.

:: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match and FREE Formulator PPs! Join DRF Bets.

Famous Shining Star was timed in 19.72 seconds on a sloppy track.

Owned by Johnny Trotter of Hereford, Texas, and trained by Jose Flores, Famous Shining Star won two $35,000 stakes in 2022 – the Virginia Hyland at 350 yards in May and the Sound Dash Handicap at 300 yards in October.

A 5-year-old mare by One Famous Eagle, Famous Shining Star has won 6 of 18 starts and earned $149,903.

Trotter owns Ruidoso Downs Racetrack in New Mexico.

Flores said Famous Shining Star is likely to be bred via embryo transfer in coming months before returning to racing in late spring.

Trainer Juan Aleman said after the race that the 6-year-old Kiss Thru Fire has been retired. She is widely expected to be named champion aged mare of 2022 in a ceremony later this month in Oklahoma City.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.