From Los Alamitos Publicity
CYPRESS, Calif. (June 18, 2025) – Kings River Knight will try to remain perfect at Los Alamitos when he faces six opponents in the $100,000-guaranteed Bertrando Stakes for Golden State Series eligibles Saturday.
A one-mile event for 3-year-olds & up bred or sired in California, the Bertrando is the eighth of nine races. Post time is 1 p.m. Approximate post time for the Bertrando is 4:40 p.m.
Owned by breeder Integrity Thoroughbred Racing LLC, the Ellwood Johnston Trust and Kenneth Tevelde and trained by John Sadler, Kings River Knight, a 7-year-old son of Acclamation Poteen mare Seasontoperfection, Kings River Knight won both the Bertrando and the E.B. Johnston in 2023 in his two prior races at Los Alamitos.
If successful Saturday, the gelding, who has won 11 of 18 and earned $710,330, will join Desmond Doss and Soi Phet as two-time winners of the Bertrando. Soi Phet captured the inaugural running in 2014 and scored again as a 10-year-old in 2018. Desmond Doss went back-to-back in 2021 and 2022.
Bred by Old English Rancho, Kings River Knight has won six of his last seven races, going gate-to-wire in his most recent start in the grassy Crystal Water May 24 at Santa Anita.
Last as the 9-10 favorite in the 2024 Bertrando, Cowboy Mike will be seeking his sixth lifetime victory for Herold Caposio LLC and Joe Caso and trainer Tim Yakteen.
A 5-year-old Smiling Tiger gelding out of the Maria’s Mon mare Lutess, Cowboy Mike has banked $273,934 in 17 starts.
Trained by Martin Valenzuela, Jr., Mr. Disrespectful will be making his Los Alamitos debut for Mojarro Racing LLC.
Fresh off a gate-to-wire victory at the Bertrando distance in his turf debut May 9 in Arcadia, the 5-year-old Smiling Tiger gelding out of the Unbridled’s Song mare Hotazel is 3-for-10 with earnings of $130,829.
Fifth in the Crystal Water, Freeport Joe returns to the main track in search of his first win in almost 2 ½ years.
Owned by Larry Odbert and trained by Gloria Haley, the 8-year-old gelded son of English Channel and the Sadler’s Wells mare Winds of March has won nine of 36 and earned $357,542. His last victory came over the Tapeta surface at the now-closed Golden Gate Fields Jan. 15, 2023.
A winner of an optional claimer last Dec. 1 in his most recent local appearance, Barely Funtional is back on dirt after trailing in the Crystal Water.
Trained by Antonio Garcia for owner-breeder J. Paul Reddam’s Reddam Racing LLC, the 5-year-old Mrazek gelding and the Tapit mare Walkingonadream is 4-for-27 with a bankroll of $296,246.
Winless in nine outings since the beginning of last year, Royal ‘n Rando will try Los Alamitos for the first time for trainer Mike Puype and owner-breeders Mr. and Mrs. Larry Williams.
A gelded son of Tamarando and the Grand Slam mare Royal Grand Slam, Royal ‘n Rando has won six of 32 and earned $243,666.
Trained by Alfredo Marquez for Valle Las Palmas LC, Rodrigoknows switches to the dirt after seven consecutive losses on turf.
The gray son of Cat Burglar and the Raffie’s Majesty Familyofroses cashed the last time he raced on the main, winning an optional claimer Jan. 12, 2024 at Santa Anita. The 6-year-old has won three of 20 and banked $152,019.
From inside out, the field for the Bertrando Stakes: Barely Funtional, Ricardo Gonzalez rides, 126 pounds; Freeport Joe, Assael Espinoza, 126; Rodrigoknows, Kyle Frey, 126; Cowboy Mike, Armando Ayuso; 126; Royal ‘n Rando, Kazushi Kimura, 126, Mr. Disrespectful, Hector Berrios, 126 and Kings River Knight, Juan Hernandez, 126.