From Los Alamitos Publicity
CYPRESS, Calif. (Sept. 13, 2025) – Two appearances at Los Alamitos have resulted in a pair of easy victories in the $75,000 E.B. Johnston Stakes for Man O Rose.
Twelve months after winning the race restricted to horses bred or sired in California by eight lengths, the 5-year-old son of Stanford and the Good Journey mare Kathleen Rose scored by 5 ¼ lengths Saturday in his first outing of 2025.
The prohibitive 2-5 favorite vs five opponents, Man O Rose quickly established command under jockey Edwin Maldonado and was never menaced in winning for the eighth time in 15 starts.
Owned by breeder Dr. Bruce Zietz’s B and B Stables and trained by Jeff Mullins, Man O Rose, who hadn’t started since finishing second behind Big City Lights in the Cary Grant last Nov. 9, completed the mile in 1:35.52. The final clocking was exactly the same as it was in his 2024 win.
The $41,625 payday pushed his earnings to $376,965 and he paid $2.80 and $2.40. There was no show wagering.
Second throughout, Stamp My Passport, the 8-1 fourth choice, returned $4.60 while finishing 1 ¾ lengths in front of 22-1 outsider Mystic Spirit. Left Hand Man, Chismosa and Shortman completed the order of finish.
Even though Man O Rose was coming off an extended layoff, Mullins was confident.
“We’ve been confident in this horse for a long time,’’ he said. “Our plan was to get an easy lead, keep him relaxed and let him hit a nice, easy stride and at the top of the stretch it looked like (Maldonado) still had plenty of horse.
“He’s a solid horse and with The Chosen Vron and Kings River Knight retired we should rise to the top now and hopefully take over that division.’’
The all-time leader in daytime thoroughbred wins with 151 victories, Maldonado believed a Johnston repeat – the first since Soi Phet won in 2016-2017) – was very possible given how well Man O Rose had been preparing for his return.
“He was training like a monster,’’ he said. “Around the second turn he had his ears pricked and I knew I had a lot of horse. It’s a great feeling to win this race two years in a row.’’
Racing resumes Sunday at Los Alamitos. Post time is 1 p.m.