Vegas Corona needs clean start in 300-yard allowance

Vegas Corona has shown the type of career ascension in recent months that could lead to appearances in graded stakes at Los Alamitos later this year.

A 3-year-old colt, Vegas Corona starts in an allowance race for nonwinners of two in Friday’s eighth and final race. The 300-yard distance will require a sharp effort from Vegas Corona, who will be ridden by Jesus Rios Ayala.

Trained by Monty Arrossa, Vegas Corona won for the first time in his fifth start in a division of the Los Alamitos Maiden Stakes at 350 yards on Jan. 26. In the $109,500 final on Feb. 16, Vegas Corona was fifth, beaten three-quarters of a length, after a slow start. The race was restricted to horses who were maidens as of Dec 1.

On March 21, Vegas Corona was second by a head in an allowance race for nonwinners of two at 350 yards, failing to overcome a bumping incident at the start.

:: To stay up to date, follow us on: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

In Friday’s race, Vegas Corona has drawn post 4 in a field of five. First post time is 9 p.m. Eastern, or 6 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

The allowance race includes three fillies – Hold the Flash, Fayvorite Chick, and Fearless N Favorite.

Fearless N Favorite, trained by Chris O’Dell, was fifth as the 9-5 favorite in a division of the Los Alamitos Oaks at 400 yards on March 27, fading in the final 100 yards. Fearless N Favorite won a maiden race at 330 yards on Feb. 23 in her sixth start.

The sixth and seventh races on Friday are 300-yard maiden races for 2-year-olds. Last Sunday, the gelding SC Divas Cartel won the first maiden race of the year for 2-year-olds at Los Alamitos.

SC Divas Cartel is trained by Mike Robbins, who has starters in both 2-year-old races Friday. In the sixth race, for fillies, Robbins runs Halley, who worked 220 yards from the gate in a quick 12.40 seconds on Feb. 29. She was purchased for $200,000 at the Ruidoso select yearling sale last September.

Trainer Paul Jones starts Top Model, a filly he owns and bred who worked quickly in March.

In the seventh race, an open maiden race, Robbins runs Eagle Empire, who worked 220 yards in 12.20 from the gate on Feb. 25. A colt, Eagle Empire was purchased for $160,000 by Reliance Ranches at Ruidoso last September.