From Los Alamitos Publicity
CYPRESS, Calif (June 25, 2022) – Heavily-favored Desmond Doss made it consecutive scores in the $100,000 Bertrando Stakes for Golden State Series eligibles, defeating Fashionably Fast and two others Saturday, opening day of the Los Angeles County Fair meet at Los Alamitos.
Owned by breeder Nick Alexander and trained by Steve Miyadi, the 6-year-old son of Grazen and the Malek mare Malley Girl earned his seventh win in 19 starts and pushed his bankroll to $422,341.
On the lead for the majority of the one-mile race for 3-year-olds & up bred or sired in California, Desmond Doss completed the distance in 1:36.31 under jockey Juan Hernandez. The 1-2 favorite, who prevailed by three-quarters of a length, returned $3 and $2.20. There was no show wagering after Johnny Podres, also owned by breeder Alexander and trained by Miyadi, was scratched earlier in the day.
The place price on Fashionably Fast, who wound up six lengths clear of 10-1 shot Irish Heatwave as the 3-1 second choice, was $2.40. Loud Mouth, who disputed the pace for the first six furlongs with Desmond Doss, completed the order of finish.
Perfect in a pair of 2022 races after capturing the Thor’s Echo last month at Santa Anita, Desmond Doss joined Soi Phet as a two-time winner of the Bertrando. Soi Phet won the inaugural renewal in 2014 before scoring again in 2018.
“The gate has cost him a lot of money, but he certainly broke well today,’’ said Miyadi. “I didn’t mind him engaging (Loud Mouth) at all, but I left it up to Juan. I told him to do whatever he wanted and I noticed that the inside seemed pretty good today. It all worked out.’’
Hernandez, who also won the 2020 Bertrando with Galilean, is undefeated aboard Desmond Doss as Santa Anita’s leading rider collaborated with the gray for the first time in the Thor’s Echo.
“(Miyadi) really had this horse ready,’’ said Hernandez. “He broke really sharp and was feeling good, so I just let him do his thing.
“He’s really a nice horse. He can go to the lead or sit behind the speed. I was patient with him and when I turned him loose he responded for me.’’
The only jockey to win twice Saturday was Ramon Vazquez. Making his Los Alamitos debut, Vazquez won the meet opener with Your Ringer and the seventh with first time starter Quagmire Magic.
Racing resumes Sunday at Los Alamitos. Post time is 2 p.m.