Parsons Ranch’s Kevins Wise Corona posted his second graded stakes win of the meet at Los Alamitos after running away from his rivals in convincing fashion in the Grade 3, $30,000 First Down Dash Handicap for 3-year-olds and up here on Sunday night.
With Eduardo Nicasio up for trainer Paul Jones, Kevins Wise Corona bumped at the start but he took the lead shortly after then pulled away with each stride on the way to a 1 ¼ length win over Casey Whitaker and Michael McKell’s Rlh Fouronthefloor. Kevins Wise Corona added the First Down Dash to his win in the Grade 3 Kaweah Bar Handicap on April 26. The 4-year-old horse by KVN Corona has competed against graded stakes rivals the entire year and his record also includes a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Go Man Go Handicap and fourth in the Grade 1 Brad McKinzie Los Alamitos Winter Championshp.
“He ran a beautiful race tonight,” Jones said. “He’s usually pretty quick at the start and doesn’t have the finish going 400 yards, but he’s really quick at 350 yards. Tonight, he ran the 400 yards like a champ. We’re really proud of him.
“He’s been a great horse his whole career, from a 2-year-old on he’s just been a super horse,” Jones added. “He’s a barn favorite. It’s nice to a stakes win for the Parsons. They love their horses and they’re real excited too. That’s what it’s all about.”
Kevins Wise Corona covered the 400 yards in :19.842 to record his eighth win in 26 starts. He earned $16,500 for the win to take his career earnings to $239,564. Bred by Jay and Char Parsons, Kevins Wise Corona is out of the First Down Dash mare Another Wise Lady, a multiple stakes place mare who has produced graded derby winner A Political Lady, current sophomore star The Lady Is A Vamp and the graded stakes place runner Favorite Wise Lady.
Ridden by Joseph Belloc, Jr. and trained by James J. Gonzales, Rlh Fouronthefloor earned $6,750 for running second. He came into this race after running third to Grade 1 winners Jeriko and Empressum in the trials to the Champion of Champions.
Mauro Eli Zaborowsky’s Edberg Verde, a multiple graded stakes placed runner, was huge in the second half of the race to finish third for Jones and jockey Henry Reynoso Lopez. Jess Being A Friend finished fourth and was followed by Cattail Cove, Special Two Corona, Mask Mandate and Boardwalk.
EYESA WAGON MY TALE HAS IMPRESSIVE CALIFORNIA DEBUT IN A RANSOM
Leto Land and Cattle LLC’s Eyesa Wagon My Tale enjoyed a spectacular California debut, as the only filly in the field defeated the males to win the $22,000 A Ransom Handicap for 3-year-olds on Saturday at Los Alamitos.
Racing at Los Alamitos for the first time in her 13-race career, the Oklahoma-bred daughter of Wagon Tales out of Eyesa Candy Chick flew out of the gate from post three, took a two-length lead after the first 100 yards and then cruised from there to win the 350-yard dash by 1 ½ lengths. Ridden by Edwin Escobedo for trainer Marc Jungers, Eyesa Wagon My Tales covered the distance in :17.691 while scoring her fourth career victory. Bred by Randy Stacy Hill, Eyesa Wagon My Tale arrived in California after running in the $249,000 Texas Classic Oaks. She also ran in the Remington Park Oaks while also winning the Restricted Grade 3 Jack Brooks Stakes at Remington Park.
“That’s how she breaks typically,” said Jungers of his filly’s amazing start. “She left there tonight. We were hoping to prep her for the Charger Bar (on January 4), that’s our aim. That’s her deal, if she breaks, she’s tough to outrun. We’re very pleased. She’s won against the boys. She’s proven herself for sure.”
Jungers has had another tremendous season at Los Alamitos. He’s won with 14 of his 68 starters this year after racking up seven wins from just 13 starters last year. His top winners here over the last two years have included AQHA World Champion Asscher, AQHA champion Lethal Cowboy 123, multiple stakes winner Train B Taka and now Eyesa Wagon My Tale. A lot of Jungers wins have come with Escobedo aboard. The young pilot has combined with Jungers to win 12 races from just 33 mounts for an impressive 36%-win ratio.
“He’s a great young man,” Jungers said. “We were working babies on Thursday then drove out here for this race. He’s a good young man, hard worker, good rider, good work ethic.”
Eyesa Wagon My Tale earned $12,100 for the win to take her career earnings to $99,145. She’s now hit the board in 10 of her 13 career starts.
Edward Melzer Revocable Trust’s Clareets Boy earned $4,950 for running second with Justine Klaiber up for trainer Eddie Willis. The gelding by Flying Cowboy 123 has finished second in two other stakes races this season, the Town Policy and the Sgt Pepper Feature.
Jesus Cueva’s Special Batch finished third with Jonathan Roman up for Valentin Zamudio. Cowboy Bolt, Kid Cocinero and Defending Champ completed the field.
