LOS ALAMITOS, CA—SEPTEMBER 20, 2019—Parsons Family Limited Partnership’s Thermonuclear Energy will go after her third major stakes win of the season when she heads an outstanding field of 10 fillies and mares in the Grade 1, $125,000 Mildred Vessels Memorial Handicap on Sunday at Los Alamitos.

The winner of the Mildred Vessels at 400 yards will earn a provisional berth to the $600,000 Champion of Champions to be held on December 14. The Mildred Vessels winner has also been named AQHA champion aged mare in four out of the past six year.

Trained by Chris O’Dell, Thermonuclear Energy has been the most consistent mares on the grounds all season long. Her top efforts include a victory in the Grade 1, $100,000 Charger Bar Handicap in January and a victory in the California Breeders Matron Stakes on July 27.

The now 6-year-old mare by Walk Thru Fire has been a standout at the Orange County oval for many years, winning the Matron Stakes and Ivan Ashment Handicap last year and the Grade 3 Las Damas Handicap in 2017. Thermonuclear Energy enters this race after scoring a 1-¼ length victory in the aforementioned Matron Stakes about two months ago.

“She did what we wanted her to do,” said O’Dell about Thermonuclear Energy’s victory in the Matron Stakes. “She’s been a great mare to have for a long time now. We’ve been spacing out her starts and always want to keep her nice and fresh.”

Thermonuclear Energy has earned $405,757 while winning 11 of 28 lifetime starts. She’ll be going after her seventh career stakes win on Sunday night.

Ed Allred’s Tough To Figure has been among the top performers in the distaff division in 2019. The Walk Thru Fire filly won the Ivan Ashment earlier this year and was second to Thermonuclear Energy in the Matron Stakes in July. She's been in the money in four out of her past five starts against stakes caliber competition.

Steve Burns’ 3-year-old filly Favorite Cartel filly Tequila Sangria won her first two starts of the meet including the Big Lew Handicap, but was scratched after becoming fractious in her Golden State Derby trial on August 4. She has since posted a 350-yard drill on August 31 in preparation for this race. If she runs her best race, Tequila Sangria will be one of main contenders this evening.

Howard Nichols’ La Rusa, the upset winner of the Miss Princess Handicap earlier this year, Suze Returns, Madam of Fire MV, As And Js, Fenian Faith, Matilda Czech and multiple stakes winner Strawfinders Jessee will complete the field.

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Courtesy of www.losalamitos.com.