LOS ALAMITOS RACE COURSE, CYPRESS, CA… After the sun has set over the snow-capped Southern California mountains and the lights of Los Alamitos illuminate the Cypress track, the stakes couldn’t be higher in the eighth race Sunday night. That’s when nine outstanding older horses will enter the starting gate for the running of the Grade 1 Brad McKinzie Los Alamitos Winter Championship at 400 yards.
For the elite field assembled, the dash represents the first “Golden Ticket” of the season. The winner earns a presumptive berth into the $700,000 Champion of Champions on December 12—the sport’s most prestigious race for older horse. Securing a spot in March allows a stable the freedom to plan the rest of the winner’s campaign, knowing a place in the December classic is already reserved. The race is named in honor of the late Brad McKinzie, the Los Alamitos track executive who had a profound impact on the sport, and this year’s edition features another powerhouse field.
The biggest name among the nine is the millionaire Lethal Cowboy 123, a runner who has been nearly flawless at the Orange County track. Owned by the partnership of Caliche Walls Venture, LLC, Alan Isbell, Lance Bland, and Jimmy Barton, “The Cowboy” has proven to be a true horse for the course with a stellar record of six wins from just seven starts at Los Alamitos. A dual Grade 1 winner in 2024 with victories in the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity and the Golden State Million Futurity, his only local blemish came in his most recent start—a surprising fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Super Derby. Under the guidance of 2024 AQHA Trainer of the Year Marc Jungers and piloted by Edwin Escobedo—the 2025 Val Tonks Award winner as the track’s top rising jockey—Lethal Cowboy 123 enters 2026 with one singular focus: securing his spot in the Champion of Champions.
“That’s our goal,” Jungers said earlier this meet. Lethal Cowboy 123, who posted a turn-and-work in :12.60 on February 15, will start from the outside post (number nine) while searching for a return to the Los Alamitos winner’s circle. He looks to add to his remarkable record of 10 wins from 14 starts and career earnings of $1,426,127.
Adding elite class and consistency to the mix is Favorite Jesshawk, the standout runner for EG High Desert Farms and trainer Jesus Nunez. A two-time PCQHRA Champion Colt at ages two and three, he has already amassed career earnings of over $414,000. Favorite Jesshawk comes into this race following a strong performance in the Grade 2 Southern California Derby on December 21, where he finished a hard-fought second to Shaken Goin On—the PCQHRA Horse of the Year and AQHA Champion 3-Year-Old Filly. His sophomore campaign also featured a win in the Grade 2 Golden State Derby and a runner-up effort in the Governor’s Cup Derby. Jockey Martin Arriaga will be aboard Favorite Jesshawk as they leave from post eight.
Seeking a return to his stakes winning form is the appropriately named Defending Champ, from the barn of owner Edward C. Allred and trainer Scott Willoughby. This son of Favorite Cartel enjoyed his biggest win last July with a dominant victory in the Governor’s Cup Derby (G2) in which he showed his best speed ever out of the gate instead of just relying on his comeback style. While he looks to get back into the winner’s circle following his last two starts—out of the money efforts in the Southern California Derby trials and the A Ransom Handicap—those races provided more valuable experience against elite company. Known for a powerful closing kick, he remains a major threat if he recaptures his Derby-winning brilliance. Gabriel Lara will pilot from post five.
Also in the hunt is the battle-tested Kevins Wise Corona, owned by Parsons Ranchand trained by Paul Jones. He enters the new season in top form following his second graded stakes win when taking the Grade 3 First Down Dash Handicap this past December. With career earnings of $178,898 and a resume featuring a win in the Grade 3 Kaweah Bar and top three efforts in the Ed Burke Million Futurity, Golden State and Southern California Derby, he has proven he is among the top aged horses on the grounds. A sharp 220-yard bullet workout in :12.50 on February 14 suggests he is primed for a big effort at a distance where he has often shined. Eduardo Nicasio gets the assignment.
Casey Whitaker and Michael McKell’s Rlh Fouronthefloor has made two starts at Los Alamitos, both resulting in strong top-three finishes. In his local debut, the gelding by Jess Got Easier was third to heavyweights Jeriko and Empressum in the Z. Wayne Griffin Directors Trials, just missing a berth to the 2025 Champion of Champions. He followed that with a second-place finish to Kevins Wise Corona in the Grade 3 First Down Dash Handicap to close out the year. A full brother to stakes winner Pattys Saint, the James J. Gonzales II-trained runner enters with seven wins from 16 starts. Christian Cardenas will steer from post seven.
Zane Kiehne’s Holy Pete is the only horse in the field with no local racing experience, but he boasts a powerful resume. The John Stinebaugh trainee won the Ruidoso Invitational as a juvenile and qualified for both the Grade 1 All American Derby and Grade 1 Texas Classic Derby last year. Bred by Bobby Cox, the Favorite Cartel gelding posted a sharp :12.5 turn-and-work on February 15 as he looks for his eighth win in 15 career outings. Francisco Calderon, who has enjoyed a lot of success at Los Alamitos in recent years, will handle the reins.
Franco Ranch and Mario Tellez Montiel’s Show N Tell Cartel enjoyed his biggest win in March 2025 when he scored in the El Primero Del Ano Derby at 10-1 odds. He looks to show off his talents Sunday night from the rail. To be ridden by Cesar Franco for trainer Elena Andrade, Show N Tell Cartel was the “claim of the year” in 2024; Tellez Montiel acquired him for just $16,000 in the Los Alamitos Claiming Futurity. He went on to qualify for the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity final, was named the PCQHRA Most Improved Horse of the Year, and followed that up with his El Primero win and qualifying efforts for the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Super Derby and the Grade 2 Southern California Derby.
Mauro Eli Zaborowsky’s Edberg Verge, a talented Brazilian-bred, brings extensive Grade 1 experience and has hit the board in several major stakes at this track. Though he has only won twice in 17 U.S. starts, he has shown the ability to make up ground late in his last two outings at 400 yards. He benefits from the meet’s hottest rider in Grade 1 races, Henry Reynoso Lopez, while Paul Jones conditions the No Secrets Here horse.
Rounding out the field is Jesus Cuevas’ Special Batch. While he has only won once in 11 career starts, his one taste of stakes action resulted in a solid third-place finish to Eyesa Wagon My Tale in the A Ransom Handicap on December 20. Jonathan Roman will look to guide Special Batch to an upset victory for trainer Valentin Zamudio.
Courtesy Los Alamitos Publicity
