LOS ALAMITOS, CA— May 2, 2015—It could be argued that the most dominant victory on a busy Saturday in the world of sports belonged to Ron and Jeryl Hartley’s champion Moonist, as he easily defeated a field that included multiple Grade 1 winner Far Niente and South American champion Jake Gold BR in the $25,000 Kaweah Bar Handicap at Los Alamitos.

Moonist, which improved his record to 12 wins from his last 14 starts, has been money in the bank for more than a year now at the Orange County oval. His 2014 season saw him win nine of 10 starts and so far this season he has won three out of 4.

His win on Saturday night was a 1¼ length romp in a race in which he led from the first yard to the final step of the 350-yard dash. The Separatist gelding covered the distance in :17.335, far and away the season’s fastest time at 350 yards. Moonist’s clocking bettered the previous mark Of :17.484, which he also posted when winning the Katella on March 22. He owns the two fastest 350 yard times of the season.

Moonist’s only losses since January of 2014 came in last year’s Los Alamitos Winter Derby and in this year’s Los Alamitos Winter Championship. Outside of those two losses, Moonist has been unbeatable. His record includes four derby wins last year – headed by the Grade 1 Golden State Derby – and this year’s Katella Handicap and now Kaweah Bar Handicap.

The reigning champion 3-year-old and champion 3-year-old gelding has won 16 of 24 career starts with earnings of $516,834. The Kaweah Bar served as a perfect tune up for Moonist as he prepares for the trials to the Grade 1 Vessels Maturity on June 14. Atwood Ranches and John Wells’ FDD Dynasty gelding Far Niente earned $5,625 for running second while Clodoaldo Miranda’s Golde Medal Jess 5-year-old, Jake Gold Br, picked up $3,125 for finishing third.

Ed Allred’s Well And Good was fourth and was followed by Remarkableyesapoweer, Unchangeable, and Easing Thru Traffic.

Courtesy of www.losalamitos.com.