From Los Alamitos Publicity
CYPRESS, Calif. (Dec. 17, 2023) – After a stretch long duel with pacesetter Stolen Treasure, Last Call London got up in the final strides to win the $101,000 King Glorious Stakes Sunday, the final day of the Winter Thoroughbred meet at Los Alamitos.
The neck victory by the gelded son of Stay Thirsty and the Empire Way mare Zo Lo’s Lov gave trainer Peter Miller a sweep of the two Golden State Series stakes 2-year-olds. He won the $100,000 Soviet Problem a week earlier with the filly Madison Rae, who led throughout to post a 9-1 upset.
Owned by Tom London, Eugene Zondlo and breeder Terry Lovingier, Last Call London, who was second for most of the journey, prevailed by a neck as the 2-1 second choice. Racing without blinkers for the first time, he completed one mile in 1:38.15 and returned $6, $3.60 and $2.40. He’s now won twice in eight starts and earned $156,870.
Stolen Treasure, the only member of the field of seven with a win at the distance, wound up five lengths clear of third place finisher and 19-10 favorite Mici’s Express as the 7-2 third choice. Stolen Treasure, whose win came on turf Dec. 1 at Del Mar, paid $4.40 and $2.60 while the show price on Mici’s Express was $2.20.
“I kind of left things up to (Hernandez),’’ said Miller, who also won the 2022 King Glorious with Giver Not a Taker. “I thought for him to help the horse away from there and get a position. I really liked where we were sitting when I saw the fractions.
“I felt we were in the right spot if we were good enough. I felt this horse would run long. He’s a big, leggy horse and always acted like a route horse, so I’m glad he got an opportunity today.’’
The stakes win was the third of the meet for Hernandez, adding to his daytime meet record total. He now has 17 local successes.
“(Miller) and I both thought this horse wanted to run long,’’ said Hernandez. “He relaxed nicely and was very strong in the stretch. (Stolen Treasure) gave him a good battle, but my horse really dug in.’’
“(Trainer) Peter (Miller) and I both thought he wanted to run long,” said Hernandez. “He relaxed nicely and was very strong in the stretch. He proved that he can run a mile or more.
“He passed the other horse and put a neck in front of him, but of course I was watching the inside horse all the time. For a moment, the inside horse was trying to come back. He gave a really good battle. It looks like my horse don’t like the whip, because when I touch him a couple times, he don’t want to go. So after that, I let him run and he wouldn’t let that other horse pass him.”