Preview Racing


Grade 1 Winner Tarzanito Heads Cypress Handicap On Friday Night
Grade 1 winner Tarzanito will head a strong field in the $25,000 Cypress Handicap at 350 yards Friday at Los Alamitos.

© Scott Martinez
Grade 1 Winner Tarzanito Heads Cypress Handicap On Friday Night

LOS ALAMITOS, CA—JANUARY 16, 2019—A1A Racing's Tarzanito, the winner of the Grade 1 Go Man Go Handicap and a stakes placed finisher in three other major races for older horses last year, will take on multiple stakes winner Twisted Sifter and several other major older horses in the featured $25,000 Cypress Handicap at 350 yards Friday at Los Alamitos.

Ridden by Eddie Garcia, Tarzanito will make his 2019 debut after a year in which he ranked among the nation's top aged stallions. In addition to his victory in the Go Man Go, Tarzanito also finished third in the Grade 1 Robert Boniface Los Alamitos Invitational Championship, Grade 1 Vessels Maturity, and Restricted Grade 1 Spencer Childers California Championship Handicap. A Champion of Champion finalist last year, the son of Favorite Cartel is trained by Yanet Rodriguez.

Ronnie Brooks Keller's Twisted Sifter was the nation's leader in wins in 2018 after scoring victories in eight of 12 starts. He won the three stakes races last year and rose from the maiden ranks to now a facing championship caliber sprinters. Multiple graded stakes finalist Scoopie Jess plus top runners Energetic, JB Wagon Boss and Apollitical Wagon will complete the field.

Los Alamitos Weekend Notes

Accomplished jockey Diego Sanchez piloted his first Thoroughbred winner at Los Alamitos when he guided Millie Joel to a two length victory in the opening race on Sunday night. Sanchez, who has piloted all over the United States and is a highly respected rider in Europe, actually had a winning double on Sunday. Prior to his victory aboard the Wilian Chavez-owned and Louis A. Bradvica-trained Millie Joel, he also visited the winner’s circle at Santa Anita with the Keith Desormeaux-trained Diamond Blitz in the opening race at the Arcadia track.

A multiple graded stakes winning rider, Sanchez has been in the winner’s circle 432 times at North American tracks. His mounts have earned over $8 million and his stakes wins include the 2007 (G3) Kentucky Cup Sprint Stakes and 2008 (G3) Hanshin Cup Handicap.

Enjoying a training double on Sunday night was the great Art Sherman, who scored victories with Ineedamaniandapedi in the second and with Yes I’m Ready in the fourth race. Sherman trained the two-time Horse of the Year California Chrome and has also won over 2,200 Thoroughbred races in his great career. Sherman’s winning ratio for his career is 18% from over 12,500 starters.

Ineedamaniandapedi won the second easily, cruising to a six length victory, giving track announcer Ed Burgart an opportunity for another terrific race call. "This is no nail biter here, a very, very easy win, Ineedamaniandapedi crushes them here."

Well done.

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Courtesy of www.losalamitos.com.