From Los Alamitos Publicity
CYPRESS, Calif. (Sept. 11, 2024) – Man O Rose, a four-time winner this year, will make his Los Alamitos debut against seven opponents in the $75,000-guaranteed E. B. Johnston Stakes Saturday.
Restricted to 3-year-olds & up bred or sired in California, the one-mile Johnston is the last of eight 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 4:30 p.m.
Trained by Jeff Mullins for B and B Zietz Stables, Inc., Man O Rose, a 4-year-old Stanford gelding out of the Good Journey mare Kathleen Rose, rattled off his 2024 victories in succession before he trailed in a turf sprint at Del Mar Aug. 2.
A winner of six of 11 lifetime with earnings of $277,840, Man O Rose will be competing beyond 6 ½ furlongs for the first time, but he has won three of four on dirt.
Third in the 2023 Johnston won by Kings River Knight, Shortman will be seeking his fourth win at Los Alamitos for owner-breeder Sergio Zepeda and trainer Genaro Vallejo.
Worse than third only once in nine local starts, the 5-year-old son of Prince of Love and the Smarty Jones mare Shorty Jones is 4-for-33 with earnings of $207,682.
Runner-up in this event 12 months ago, Fast Draw Munnings will debut for Hronis Racing LLC and trainer John Sadler after being claimed for $40,000 Aug. 31.
The 5-year-old gelded son of Munnings and the Bedford Falls mare Zuzu’s Petals tired after pressing the pace that afternoon his first start since the 2023 Johnston. He’s won three of nine and earned $260,644.
Idle since trailing as the 9-10 choice in the Bertrando Stakes during the Los Angeles County Fair meet earlier this year, Cowboy Mike will be aiming for his second victory at the venue for owner-breeder Connie Pageler and Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert.
Successful by seven lengths in an optional claimer vs. fellow state breds during this meet a year ago, the 4-year-old Smiling Tiger gelding has four wins in 12 attempts. Out of the Maria’s Mon mare Lutess, Cowboy Mike has a bankroll of $211,494.
After disappointing as the favorite in a pair of grass races at Del Mar, Dont Fight the Fed returns to dirt for owner-breeder J. Paul Reddam’s Reddam Racing LLC and trainer Antonio Garcia.
Out of the Scat Daddy mare Taffeta, the 4-year-old Nyquist colt has won twice in 10 races and banked $153,680.
A distant fourth behind runaway winner Ultra Power at the Johnston distance Aug. 31 at Del Mar, El Rey Dorado will try to stay perfect locally for owner, breeder and trainer Mick Ruis, Sr.
Trained by Carla Gaines for owner-breeder Harris Farms, Inc., Coalinga Road is back on dirt after finishing fifth of 11 at nearly 8-1 in the California Dreamin’ Aug. 3.
Third in the 2023 Bertrando won by Kings River Knight in his only race here, Coalinga Road, who is winless in seven starts this year, is 4-for-28 lifetime with earnings of $459,394.
A 4-year-old gelded son of Bolt d’Oro and the Vindication mare Berry Knoll, El Rey Dorado broke his maiden against $50,000 maidens during the 2023 Winter meet in his only other appearance here.
El Rey Dorado has earned $102,848 while winning three times in 11 starts.
Rhino, a 4-year-old Texas Ryano gelding out of the Rockport Harbor mare Rockin Dorita, will go for new connections – RD Race Stable Inc. and David Levine and trainer Rafael DeLeon – after being claimed for $25,000 Aug. 22.
Second – defeated by a head when 12-1 in a 6 ½ furlong contest in his Los Alamitos bow July 7 – Rhino has one win in eight outings and earnings of $90,020.
From inside out, the field for the E.B. Johnston Stakes: Dont Fight the Fed, Mario Gutierrez rides, 122 pounds; Cowboy Mike, Kyle Frey, 122; Rhino, Tiago Pereira, 120; Man O Rose, Edwin Maldonado, 122; Shortman, Welfin Orantes, 122; El Rey Dorado, Ricardo Gonzalez, 122; Coalinga Road, Hector Berrios, 124 and Fast Draw Munnings, Tyler Baze, 124.