Tequila Sangria rolls in Charger Bar

CYPRESS, Calif. - Tequila Sangria won her second major stakes for Quarter Horse fillies and mares in the last four months in Sunday’s $100,000 Charger Bar Handicap at Los Alamitos.

Ridden by Jesus Rios Ayala, Tequila Sangria won by a half-length over 2-1 favorite As and Js, finishing 400 yards in 19.64 seconds. Thermonuclear Energy, who won the 2019 Charger Bar, was third. Tequila Sangria paid $10.80 to woin.

Tequila Sangria broke from the outside in the field of 10. She led shortly after the start despite bumping with a rival in the initial strides.

Tequila and Sangria and As and Js were first and second in the $125,000 Mildred Vessels Handicap for fillies and mares at Los Alamitos on Sept. 22. They were later ninth and fifth in the $600,000 Champion of Champions at Los Alamitos on Dec. 14, the track’s leading race for older horses.

Tequila Sangria will be rested through the winter and spring and is scheduled to be bred via embryo transfer in coming months, according to trainer Mike Casselman. Tequila Sangria is owned by his brother-in-law Steve Burns, who operates one of California’s leading Quarter Horse farms.

Tequila Sangria is expected to resume training in the summer. A 4-year-old filly by Favorite Cartel, Tequila Sangria has won 5 of 9 starts and earned $163,160.