Foosea, under jockey Armando Cervantes, won the $33,660 Adequan California Derby Challenge on Sunday at Los Alamitos.

© Amber Mendez

LOS ALAMITOS, CA–MAY 19, 2024–Owned and bred by Dunn Ranch, Foosea scored his third win from his last five starts after a dominant effort in the $33,660 Adequan California Derby Challenge on Sunday at Los Alamitos.

The Oklahoma-bred gelding by Foose and out of the Tres Seis mare Tres Sea, Foosea broke sharply but trailed at the start of the 400-yard regional final.

Sent off at 9-5 odds, Foosea took control after the first 100 yards and from there he ran flawlessly to win Adequan California Derby by 1 ¼ lengths over the 13-1 longshot La Famosa Vaquera. Ridden by Armando Cervantes for trainer Monty Arrossa, Foosea covered the distance in :19.893.

Foosea gives Arrossa another winner in the Bank of America Challenge Championship Series. The trainer has always been a big proponent of the program and his recent, local winners here have included Double Down 123, Chicks First Flash, Scoops Dynasty and Speed Dynasty. With the victory in this race, Foosea earns a berth to the Adequan Derby Challenge final to be held at The Downs at Albuquerque in October.

Adequan California Derby Challenge winning trainer Monty Arrossa and jockey Armando. © Amber Mendez

"The Challenge has been a wonderful program for us," Arrossa said. "When I was living in Idaho running in the Northwest, the (Bank of America Challenge) were some of our bigger races. It’s something that we always look forward to. I love supporting the Challenge. Obviously, I had three in here tonight."

In addition to Foosea, Arrossa also saddled fourth place finisher Mv Royal Pappasito and fifth place finisher Mov On Over. Xpensive, who entered this race after running in the El Primero Del Ano Derby final, finished third thanks to a solid finish.

The early leader was the maiden La Famosa Vaquera, as the Flying Cowboy 123 filly once again showed tremendous gate speed before giving way to the razor sharp Foosea. 

"Foosea just keeps getting better and better. He ran great in the Maiden Stakes and then we brought him back three weeks ago and had a super 220 work. He’s trained really well up to this race. Although it was a short field, it was a very competitive field. He ran a flawless race tonight. I’m proud of him. We’ll probably just try to keep the horse fresh. We’ll run him in a few handicap races and the ultimate goal will be to run him in Albuquerque in the Challenge final."

Foosea, who finished second in the $115,000 Los Alamitos Maiden Stakes, earned $17,504 in this race to take his lifetime bankroll to $48,549.

Rose Garcia’s La Famosa Vaquera earned $7,742 for her runner-up effort. Trained by Elena Andrade, the Gary and Jeralyn Messenger-bred filly took her career tally in earnings to $10,662.

Xpensive, a son of leading sire Favorite Cartel, earned $3,870 for third. Jose Flores conditions the gelding for Steve Burns, Juan Moya, Ricardo Rodriguez, Mark Winslow, and Marta Winslow.

My Royal Pappasito and Mov On Over completed the field.

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