Willis following familiar path with Ruse Ticle Knockout into Los Alamitos Oaks
The 3-year-old filly Ruse Ticle Knockout had her first start at Los Alamitos in a division of the Los Alamitos Oaks trials on March 7, winning by a length at 3-5.
Russ Ticle Knockout was timed in 19.81 seconds for 400 yards, quick enough to earn the second-fastest qualifying time for Saturday’s $400,500 final for 3-year-old fillies.
The planning for that race is a familiar routine for trainer Eddie Willis.
Last year, Willis won a division of the Los Alamitos Oaks trials with Shaken Goin On, her first start since the preceding November. Shaken Goin On won the Los Alamitos Oaks final three weeks after her time trial.
Ruse Ticle Knockout has had a similar schedule. Her win on March 7 was her first start since a second-place finish by a neck in the $100,000 Southwest Juvenile Championship at Zia Park in New Mexico on Dec. 14.
The layoff did not bother Shaken Goin On. Judging from her trial race win, Ruse Ticle Knockout is thriving, too.
The Los Alamitos Oaks has a field of 10. Ruse Ticle Knockout starts from post 8, and will be ridden by Edwin Escobedo, who has ridden the filly in seven of her nine starts, including four of her five wins.
Ruse Ticle Knockout is expected to be the second choice behind fastest qualifier Beuteeful, who starts from the inside post. Beuteeful, trained by Kristin Watanabe, won the second of three time trials on March 7 in 19.78 seconds, finishing a head in front of Shiny New.
Beuteeful won the $275,800 Robert Adair Kindergarten Futurity at 300 yards last May. Last fall, she qualified for two seven-figure futurities.
Beuteeful broke through the gate before the start of the $1.17 million Golden State Million Futurity last October and finished seventh by 3 1/4 lengths as the 3-2 favorite.
In the $1.9 million Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity in December, Beuteeful started from the inside post and was not a factor, finishing fifth by 1 3/4 lengths. She was promoted to fourth after Jess Im Worth It was disqualified from third to ninth for causing interference.
The Los Alamitos Oaks will be fourth time that Beuteeful has started from the inside post. She won from that position in the Kindergarten and in a trial for the Los Alamitos Oaks.
There were three trials for the Los Alamitos Oaks. Cm Jessa Blue Monday won the first division in the relatively slow time of 20.06 seconds. Saturday’s race will be her first start in a stakes, and her sixth race.
Of the runners beaten in the time trials, Shiny New will attract attention. She was beaten a head by Beuteeful on March 7. Last June, Shiny New was third by a length in the $1 million Ed Burke Million Futurity in her final start of the year.
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