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WHOLE LOT OF KARMA LOOKS GOOD IN KATELLA HANDICAP

CYPRESS, CA - MARCH 12, 2011 - It looks like Vessels Stallion Farm and Bud Feldkamp’s Whole Lot Of Karma will be in the mix in all of the major Grade 1 stakes race at Los Alamitos in 2011 based on his outstanding victory in Saturday’s $25,000 Katella Handicap for 4-year-olds and upward and 350 yards.

The gelded son of Apollo ran one of the best races of his career, as he broke sharply from post three and then sailed on to post a wire to wire victory over Mamas Justice in a quick time of :17.267.

“Leaving the gate is sometimes not his strength, so when I saw how quickly he broke tonight I was confident about his chances to win,” said trainer Adan Farias. “He has beautiful long stride, but he is one of those horses that can be so quiet in the gate that sometimes he takes off slow. In his stall he is always sleeping. He is very quiet. He’s like a pony. That’s just his personality. When he’s on the track he can be a little different. He’s a bit more of a handful in warm ups, but then in the gates he just becomes the mellowest horse out there.”

Whole Lot Of Karma, the winner of last year’s PCQHRA Breeders Derby, earned $13,750 for this win to take his career earnings to $126,515. He could earn a whole lot more money in the future races that his connections have mapped out for the Vessels Stallion Farm-bred runner.

“He’s one of my Champion of Champions hopefuls,” said Farias. “I thought that last year he was good enough to be in the Champion of Champions. We’re going to shoot for that race again this year. We’ll be going after races like the Vessels Maturity, Go Man Go Handicap and the Los Alamitos Invitational Championship and if need be the Z. Wayne Griffin Directors Trials again.”

Whole Lot Of Karma attempted to reach the Champion of Champions last year by racing in the Z. Wayne Griffin Directors Trials. His hopes were dashed when he was bumped at the break before coming back to finish in second place. Prior to his Katella victory, Whole Lot Of Karma had another troubled start in his Los Alamitos Winter Championship trial when fourth behind champion Jess You And I.

Mamas Justice, Blues Man Too, Ought To Be Higher, JP Rhythm, Auto Rotate and Toll Check completed the Katella field.