From Los Alamitos Publicity
CYPRESS, Calif. (June 23, 2021) – Brandothebartender will seek his third win of 2021 when he takes on four opponents in the $100,000 Bertrando Stakes Saturday at Los Alamitos.
A one-mile event for 3-year-olds & up bred or sired in California, the Bertrando – which returns to its original name after being called the Soi Phet Stakes in 2020 – is the fourth of nine races. Post time is 1 p.m. Approximate post time for the Bertrando is 2:28 p.m.
Owned by Flawless Racing, Brian Flanagan and Michael Jarvis and trained by Craig Dollase, Brandothebartender had a two-race win streak snapped when he was second behind Give Me the Lute in the Albany Stakes on the Golden Gate Fields turf course June 12.
An 8-year-old son of Tribal Rule and the Stravinsky mare Frysland, the gelding has won nine of 45 and banked $690,964. Before his visit to Northern California, Brandothebartender captured the Sensational Star at six furlongs March 21 and the Crystal Water at one mile April 24. Both of those wins came over the Santa Anita grass.
A $40,000 claim by his current connections nearly three years ago, Brandothebartender has been 1-2-3 in six of eight on dirt. He was third in this race a year ago, finishing four lengths behind winner Galilean.
Trained by Steve Miyadi for owner-breeder Nick Alexander, Desmond Doss will be making his Los Alamitos debut.
A gray son of Grazen and the Malek mare Malley Girl, the 5-year-old has won four of 13 and earned $228,091. He scored an authoritative win as the 9-10 favorite in his most recent appearance in an optional claimer June 5 at Santa Anita.
A 4-year-old Smiling Tiger gelding, Scary Fast Smile will stretch out for trainer Mark Glatt after consecutive blowout sprint victories five weeks apart at Santa Anita.
Owned by William Branch, William Buster, Jr. and Mark Cohen, Scary Fast Smile, who is out of the Congaree mare Scary Fast, defeated maidens by 7 ¾ lengths April 21, then rolled to an eight-length victory in an optional claimer May 29.
Never worse than third in seven starts, the chestnut has earned $118,840. He’ll be trying to give Glatt his second win in this event. The trainer previously scored with Boozer in 2016.
Supplemented for $2,000 to the Bertrando by trainer John Sadler for owners and co-breeders Francoise and Jean Pierre Dupuis, Luvluv will be making his first start on dirt after 10 races on turf.
The Lakerville gelding rallied from last to win at nearly 30-1 at the Bertrando distance May 30. The victory was the second for the 4-year-old, who is out of the Fasilyev mare Lucera, and pushed his bankroll to $98.400.
Fourth in the Albany, Tom’s Surprise will stretch out for the first time in his career in his initial try at a track other than Golden Gate Fields.
Trained by Jonathan Wong for KAM Racing Stables and Brent Malmstrom, the 4-year-old Tom’s Tribute gelding out of the Henrythenavigator mare Birthday Surprise has won four of nine and earned $64,250. He’s 1-for-3 since being claimed by his current connections for $16,000 Jan. 22.
From inside out, the field for the Bertrando Stakes: Desmond Doss, Abel Cedillo rides, 119 pounds; Brandothebartender, Umberto Rispoli, 124; Luvluv, Juan Hernandez, 119; Scary Fast Smile, Tyler Baze, 120 and Tom’s Surprise, Jose Valdivia, Jr., 119.