From Los Alamitos Publicity
CYPRESS, Calif. (Dec. 12, 2024) – Trainer Peter Miller will be looking for his third consecutive win in the $100,000 King Glorious Stakes for Golden State Series eligibles when he saddles R Heisman Sunday at Los Alamitos.
Named in honor of the 1988 Hollywood Futurity and 1989 Haskell winner, the one-mile King Glorious is restricted to 2-year-olds bred or sired in California and is the main event on the final day of the Winter Thoroughbred meet.
Post time is 12:30 p.m. The King Glorious will be the last of nine races. Approximate post time is 4:30 p.m.
Miller, who won with Giver Not a Taker in 2022 before Last Call London’s victory 12 months ago, will be trying to equal Doug O’Neill for most wins in the race since it was moved from Hollywood Park to Los Alamitos in 2014.
O’Neill’s King Glorious wins came with Found Money (2015), Ann Arbor Eddie (2016) and Play Chicken (2020).
Trained by Highclere Inc. and owned by Gary Barber, R Heisman, a Far From Over gelding out of the First American mare Parisienne, has not been worse than second in five starts vs. fellow state breds.
In his most recent outing, R Heisman was second as the 7-5 favorite in the Golden State Juvenile Nov. 1 at Del Mar, beaten a half-length by Speedy Wilson. He’s 2-for-7 in his career with a bankroll of $156,450.
Owned by a large partnership that includes Blinkers On Racing Stable, Janlois Racing LLC, Thomsen Racing LLC and Valinor Racing Stable LLC and trained by Mark Glatt, Call Me Sir, a son of Sir Prancealot and the Grazen mare Ruby Bradley, graduated at the King Glorious distance Oct. 18 at Santa Anita and the race has proven live. Both the runner-up (King of Dragons) and the third-place finisher (Dynodave) returned to win.
Bred by Mike Adams, Call Me Sir has earned $45,900 in three starts.
Trained by Phil D’Amato for owner-breeder Nick Alexander, Shea Brennan will compete beyond seven furlongs for the first time after finishing third behind stablemate Speedy Wilson in the Golden State Juvenile Nov. 1 at Del Mar.
A son of Tough Sunday and the Old Topper mare Carrie Rose, Shea Brennan is 1-for-4, but has not been worse than third and has banked $84,600.
Impressive last out maiden winner Got’m Cot’m will stretch out for the first time for owner Cami Cottan and trainer Val Brinkerhoff. The Bolt d’Oro colt, out of the Flower Alley mare Annabird and bred by Richard Barton Enterprises, has one victory in four attempts and earnings of $48,200.
Northern California Yearling Sale graduate I’m a Bad Boy will also be tackling two turns for the first time for C T R Stables and trainer Luis Mendez after finishing a close third going five furlongs on grass Dec. 1.
Bred by Terry Lovingier, the Stay Thirsty gelding out of the Roman Ruler mare Donita’s Ruler is the lone two-time winner in the King Glorious cast. The $18,000 purchase at the Northern California Yearling Sale went back-to-back Aug. 31 and Oct. 6. He’s banked $125,080 in seven outings.
Prompt as the 11-10 favorite in his sixth lifetime start, Whiskyginandbrandy defeated maidens going six furlongs Nov. 3 and is another trying more distance.
Trained by Steve Knapp, the leading conditioner at the Winter meet, for Anthony Chacon, Victor Flores and breeder Terry Lovingier, the Stay Thirsty colt out of the Successful Appeal mare Appealing Susan has banked $59,090. He was second in his Los Alamitos debut during the September meet.
Knapp also entered maiden The Gypsy Cowboy, which he owns in partnership with Chacon, Flores and breeder Lovingier. The gelded son of Stay Thirsty and the Rio Verde mare Akiss Forarose has earned $19,480 in five races.
The other maiden in the contest is Hardtobebetternow. A Hard Spun gelding out of the Grand Slam mare Whobetterthanus was runner-up behind Dynodave going eight furlongs on the turf Nov. 10. Trained by Tim Yakteen for breeders Rusty Brown, Alan Klein and Philip Lebherz, Hardtobebetternow earned $10,800 for that performance.
Valentines Candy returns in a week for Dale Brewer and trainer Jesus Mendoza after an authoritative maiden victory at 6 ½ furlongs in his return to Los Alamitos.
Unplaced in his three previous tries at the venue, the Danzing Candy gelding out of the Harlan’s Holiday mare Ancient Holiday won by 3 ½ lengths vs. six rivals. Bred by Rancho San Miguel, Valentines Candy has one win and earned $30,140. She is a two-time graduate of the CTBA January Sale.
From inside out, the field for the King Glorious Stakes: Valentines Candy, Welfin Orantes rides, 117 pounds; Shea Brennan, Antonio Fresu, 117; Got’m Cot’m, Kyle Frey, 117; I’m a Bad Boy, Ricardo Gonzalez, 119; R Heisman, Juan Hernandez, 117; Hardtobebetternow, Kazushi Kimura, 117; Whiskyginandbrandy, Tiago Pereira, 117; The Gypsy Cowboy, Tyler Baze, 117 and Call Me Sir, Umberto Rispoli, 117.