LOS ALAMITOS RACE COURSE - NOVEMBER 20, 2011

Final: DECEMBER 11, 2011

Purse: $2,236,300

Age: 2-YEAR-OLDS

Distance: 400 YARDS
Scott Martinez Photo/story by Ty Wyant for SureBet

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Last To Fire Fastest To Two Million

Cypress, CA - Nov. 20, 2011 - Jesus Avila and Jesus Cuevas’ Last To Fire easily set the fastest-qualifying time when he spectacularly dominated the 13th of 14 trials to the Grade 1, $2,236,300 Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity on Sunday night.

The Los Alamitos Two Million is the richest race in Los Alamitos history and the richest race in California. The only quarter horse race with a higher purse is the Grade 1, $2,400,000 All American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs.

Last To Fire rolled to a three-length win in :19.724 for 400 yards over wet-fast track. His time was the equivalent of one length quicker than second-fastest qualifier I Like The Odd’s time of :19.868.

“Halfway through the race all I could say was ‘There he goes! There’s no stopping him now!’,” said co-owner Cuevas. “The horse has a good trainer and a great jockey. (Trainer) Juan Aleman has made a lot of right choices with this horse. We work well as a team. We work well together.”

A son of Walk Thru Fire, Last To Fire has stepped up to the grade 1 ranks this fall at Los Alamitos. He won his maiden in his fourth start when he set the fastest-qualifying time to the Golden State Million and then supported that breakout effort when he was third behind Igotyourtac in the Golden State Million.

Double Bar S Ranch’s homebred Igotyourtac reached the Los Alamitos Two Million when he won his trial by one-half length with a :19.985 time. The Paul Jones-trained colt has now won four of his latest five starts, highlighted by his neck win in the Golden State Million.

Billy Smith and Pat Guthrie’s Terrific Synergy continued his qualifying streak with a trial win in :19.938 for trainer Cody Joiner. The gelding by FDD Dynasty won his trial by one-half length for his fourth win from six starts. His two defeats were a fourth-place finish in the Ed Burke Million and a sixth-place finish in the Golden State Million.

“To beat them in the final, he’ll need to fly out of the gate,” co-owner Smith said. “Believe me, I’m tickled with the way he ran, but to win he has to leave from there. The distance helps him because he is capable of finishing strongly.”

The Los Alamitos Two Million will be held on Sunday, December 11.
 

LOS ALAMITOS RACE COURSE - NOVEMBER 20, 2011

Final: DECEMBER 11, 2011

Purse: $35,000

Age: 2-YEAR-OLDS

Distance: 400