Tequila Sangria bests elders in Mildred Vessels Handicap

The 3-year-old filly Tequila Sangria beat older Quarter Horse fillies and mares for the first time in Sunday’s $125,000 Mildred Vessels Handicap at Los Alamitos, earning an automatic berth to the $600,000 Champion of Champions against many of the nation’s leading older horses on Dec. 14.

Tequila Sangria ($8.60) overcame a bump at the start under Jesus Ayala to win the 400-yard race by a nose against 7-1 As and Js, finishing in 19.71 seconds. Suze Returns (8-1) finished third, a neck behind As and Js. Thermonuclear Energy, the 6-5 favorite, finished sixth after a slow start.

Tequila Sangria is trained by Mike Casselman, for his brother-in-law Steve Burns. By Favorite Cartel, Tequila Sangria has won 4 of 6 starts and earned $101,010. Last fall, Tequila Sangria was last of 10 in the Golden State Million Futurity.

This year, Tequila Sangria is unbeaten in three starts, including a minor handicap at 350 yards on July 12. She was scratched from a division of the Golden State Derby trials in early August after becoming unruly in the gate. The Mildred Vessels Handicap was Tequila Sangria’s first start outside of her age group.

The Champion of Champions is run at 440 yards and plays a pivotal role in year-end championship voting.