From Los Alamitos Publicity
CYPRESS, Calif. (Sept. -3, 2023) – Kings River Knight will have six opponents when he seeks his second stakes win of the year at Los Alamitos in the $75,000-guaranteed E. B. Johnston Saturday.
Restricted to 3-year-olds & up bred or sired in California, the one-mile Johnston is the last of nine races on the second day of the September Thoroughbred meet. Post time Saturday is 1 p.m. and approximate post time for the Johnston is 5 p.m.
Bred by Old English Rancho and trained by John Sadler for Integrity Thoroughbred Racing LLC, Ellwood Johnston Trust and Kenneth Tevelde, Kings River Knight led throughout as the 8-5 favorite to win the Bertrando June 24 in his Los Alamitos debut.
Juan Hernandez, the top rider on the Southern California circuit, had the call that afternoon and he has a return engagement in the Johnston.
If Kings River Knight wins Saturday, it will be the 14th stakes win at Los Alamitos for Hernandez, moving him into sole possession of the top spot during the daytime thoroughbred meets. He is currently tied with Corey Black.
The stakes victories also include the Orange County Fair meets (1977-1991).
A 5-year-old gelded son of Acclamation and the Poteen mare Seasontoperfection, Kings River Knight has won five of 11 and earned $324,760. He’s been worse than second only once in his career.
Trainer Doug O’Neill, who won the 2019 Johnston with Oliver, will be represented by Hail Freedom.
A 5-year-old son of Box Score and the Good Journey mare Susan B Good, Hail Freedom has won five of 16 and banked $355,120 for owner-breeder Ed Delaney.
Idle since finishing fifth behind The Chosen Vron in the California Flag Handicap last Oct. 16, Hail Freedom will be making his first start at Los Alamitos, but he has won three of four on dirt.
Owned by breeder Sergio Zepeda’s Zepeda Racing Inc and trained by Salvador Naranjo, Shortman will be seeking his fourth win in seven starts at Los Alamitos.
The 4-year-old Prince of Love colt out of the Smarty Jones mare Shorty Jones is 4-for-22 overall with a bankroll of $171,414. His local victories have been by a combined 18 ½ lengths.
Trained by Librado Barocio for David A. Bernsen LLC and Mia Familia Racing Stable, Johnny Podres will stretch out after finishing sixth of nine in an optional claimer going five furlongs on the turf at Del Mar July 29.
A gelded son of Grazen and the Harlan’s Holiday mare Malibu Holiday and bred by Nick Alexander, Johnny Podres has won six of 29 and earned $301,560. Two of his wins have come at the Johnston distance, but those scores came on the Tapeta at Golden Gate Fields in 2020 and on the turf at Santa Anita last year.
Finneus will be trying to end a lengthy losing streak for trainer Craig Dollase and a partnership that includes Naseer Mohammed Fasihuddin, Amanda Navarro and breeder Terry Lovingier.
The 4-year-old Stay Thirsty colt out of the Ghostzapper mare My Fiona has lost 19 in a row since capturing the Golden State Juvenile at Del Mar Nov. 5, 2021 when conditioned by Walther Solis.
Second in two of his three starts at Los Alamitos, Finneus is 2-for-25 lifetime with earnings of $443,022.
Geezer, who broke his maiden in his second career race at Los Alamitos during the 2022 September meet, has won three of seven and banked $124,360 for owner-trainer Jose Valdez. He was bred by Melody Conlan and Hector Palma.
In his lone try at the Johnston distance, Geezer, a 3-year-old Merit Man gelding out of the More Than Ready mare Pat Olcott, was third in the 2022 King Glorious Stakes won by Giver Not a Taker.
A gate-to-wire winner Aug. 12 at eight furlongs after more than 15 months on the shelf, Fast Draw Munnings returns to the scene of his debut victory two years ago for Red Baron’s Barn LLC and Rancho Temescal LLC and trainer Jeff Mullins.
A 4-year-old Munnings gelding out of the Bedford Falls mare Zuzu’s Petals, Fast Draw Munnings has won three of seven and earned $246,644. He was bred by Glen Porter.
From inside out, the field for the E.B. Johnston Stakes: Shortman, Diego Herrera rides, 122 pounds; Fast Draw Munnings, Hector Berrios, 124; Johnny Podres, Ramon Vazquez, 124; Geezer, Tiago Pereira, 124; Kings River Knight, Juan Hernandez, 124; Finneus, Armando Aguilar, 122 and Hail Freedom, Edwin Maldonado, 120.