From Los Alamitos Publicity
CYPRESS, Calif. (June 20, 2021) — Veteran gelding Brandothebartender and last-out winner Desmond Doss are among 10 nominees to the $100,000-guaranteed Bertrando Stakes, a one-mile race for 3-year-olds & up Golden State Series eligibles.
The eighth renewal of the race will be run Saturday, June 26, the second day of the Summer Thoroughbred Festival at Los Alamitos.
Owned by a partnership that includes Flawless Racing, Brian Flanagan and Michael Jarvis and trained by Craig Dollase, Brandothebartender, an 8-year-old Tribal Rule gelding bred by John Haagsma & Wesley Ward, has won nine of 45 and banked $690,964. He was third in this race – which was called the Soi Phet in 2020 – in his only previous start at Los Alamitos.
Trained by Steve Miyadi for owner-breeder Nick Alexander, Desmond Doss, a 5-year-old son of Grazen, has been consistent in 2021, finishing worse than third only once in six starts. He comes off a pace pressing score as the 9-10 favorite in an optional claimer June 5 at Santa Anita. He’s earned $229,091 while winning 4 of 13.
Miyadi also nominated two other Alexander homebreds – Lieutenant Dan and Lovesick Blues, who has won two in a row, including a 16-1 upset going 6 ½ furlongs on turf June 12 in Arcadia.
Other nominees include Betito, who has won back-to-back races for Twilight Racing LLC and trainer Kristin Mulhall, Margot’s Boy, Peaceful Transfer, Scary Fast Smile, who will stretch out for the first time after consecutive easy sprint victories for a partnership and trainer Mark Glatt, Signofthecross and Tom’s Surprise.
Trained by Leonard Powell for a partnership, Signofthecross is the only nominee with a win at Los Alamitos. The 4-year-old Cross Traffic gelding broke his maiden at the Bertrando distance during the 2020 Summer Thoroughbred Festival.
Entries for the Bertrando Stakes will be taken Wednesday, June 23.