American Dreamin, under jockey Armando Cervantes, won the Grade 1, $1,073,800 Golden State Million Futurity on Sunday night at Los Alamitos.

© William Zuazo

LOS ALAMITOS, CA–OCTOBER 27, 2024–Thanks to a pair of outstanding fillies, the 2024 racing season has been a dream year for Dunn Ranch.

The Oklahoma-based racing operation has won three major futurities at Los Alamitos in 2024 most recently with the Apollitical Jess filly American Dreamin in the Grade 1, $1,073,800 Golden State Million Futurity on Sunday night at Los Alamitos.

With Armando Cervantes up for trainer Monty Arrossa, American Dreamin improved her record in California to a perfect three for three thanks to a strong finish from post number nine in the Golden State Million.

The homebred filly was second at the start behind Lethal Cowboy 123, but quickly moved up to challenge him after the first 100 yards. The two continue head-to-head from there with American Dreamin taking the lead by the midway point and then making her advantage hold to the wire to win the Golden State Million by a ½ length. American Dreamin was the 3-5 favorite in this race after winning her Golden State Million trial by 2 ½ lengths while posting the fastest qualifying time.

Dunn Ranch is joined in the Goden State Million Futurity winner's circle at Los Alamitos Race Course. © William Zuazo

American Dreamin's winning time in the final was not as fast as her clocking in the trial, but that's because she was bumped early in this race. She quickly recovered as she started to hunt down Lethal Cowboy 123 and eventually moved ahead of the talented gelding by Flying Cowboy 123 while crossing the wire in a winning time of :19.769. She entered this race after winning her trial in :19.66.

American Dreamin earned $439,656 for this win after earning less than $10,000 in her first four career starts. With her victory in the Golden State Million, American Dreamin joins her stablemate Up To Party as the two biggest futurity winners of the meet. Racing for Dunn Ranch and bred by Ed Allred, Up To Party won the Grade 1 Ed Burke Million Futurity in June and the PCQHRA Breeders Futurity in September. They're now the meet's two richest juveniles.

"She's been a blessing," said Matt Dunn of American Dreamin. "We raised this filly out of a mare (Sweet 16) that we bought from Chris Duke. We got two Apollitical Jess babies out of (Sweet 16). We took them to the sale and ended up buying her back. She was a repurchase for us. We had high hopes and just took our time with her. She was really a little green coming into here. She'd run a few times at Ruidoso. She showed a lot of talent out there but she's really just starting to mature and come into herself. I'm just proud. We you raise one it just makes it that much better."

Armondo Cervantes and Monty Arrossa following their win in the Golden State Million Futurity on Sunday night. © William Zuazo

Dunn Ranch were also represented by Blood Viper in this race, a gelding by Apollitical Blood that they also raised. Blood Viper finished fifth behind third-place finisher Cartel Perry and fourth-place finisher Favorite Jesshawk

American Dreamin was the star performer in this race after Dunn Ranch and Arrossa decided to give Up To Party time off following her win in the PCQHRA Breeders Futurity. That gave American Dreamin the opportunity to play the leading role and she did it to perfection.

"I've always said that we try to do the right thing for the horses and regardless we felt we had a pretty good lineup for these trials. I had no idea that we would run the fastest time and then come back and win it by any stretch. We did feel that it was the right thing to do for (Up To Party) and now we'll just see how American Dreamin pulls up and how Blood Viper pulls up and decide for the Two Million what we are going to do. Up To Party is feeling great and we are looking forward to the rest of the year. We are so thankful for Monty, all the grooms and Renovo, who is our sponsor for some of the vet work."

Dunn Ranch, who also the Golden State Million with Whizkey Glasses in 2021, will have a tremendous group for the Two Million trials as well with American Dreamin, Up To Party, Blood Viper and also Up To Party's full brother, Party Time Tom.

Owner Matt Dunn congratulates the Arrossa team on Sunday. © William Zuazo

"Tom is coming into himself. He's a real late maturer, king of a goof off type of a horse. I've always said that when he puts it together, watch out. Maybe this break is a good thing for him."

American Dreamin's key to victory was not letting the troubled she encountered at the start throw off her rhythm during the early going. Credit winning pilot Armando Cervantes to keep her focus as she quickly recovered to challenge the fast-starting Lethal Cowboy 123.

"She went in the gate well," Cervantes began. "It's always a little nervous when you go in the gate. You just never know. She kind of hopped the gate but called her out a little bit and she started running. I knew I had a chance to catch him up. I tried my best, did everything I could and got her to the wire. I just let my mind settle down and just rode her the way I know how to ride her."

Owned by Caliche Walls Venture LLC, Alan Isbell, Lance Bland and Jimmy Barton, Lethal Cowboy 123 ran a tremendous race from post number two, grabbing an early advantage and looking like he would get the victory as the field moved past the midway point.

He did break in and then drifted out, but his big effort earned him $177,956.

Bred by Veronica Gail Worth, Lethal Cowboy 123 is out of the broodmare Pretty Lethal, who is from the family of JM Miracle, Lethal Lil and Volcoms Delight. He was purchased for $150,000 at the Los Alamitos Equine Sale. Christian Ramos piloted Lethal Cowboy 123 gelding, who has now finished first or second in all six of his career starts. He was second in the $100,000 Ruidoso Juvenile earlier this year.

Owned and bred by Johnny Trotter, Cartel Perry earned $125,616 for his third-place finish in this race. The colt by Mr Jess Perry was ridden by Eduardo Nicasio for trainer Chris O'Dell. Cartel Perry is from the family of AQHA champion One Famous Eagle plus One Famous Lady, and Famous Cartel Jess.

EG High Desert Farms' A Mere Felix colt, Favorite Jesshawk the Governor's Cup Futurity winner earlier this year, earned $73,276 for finishing fourth here. Ricardo Ramirez piloted him for trainer Jesus Nunez.

Ridden by Bryan Candanosa, Blood Viper earned $62,808 for running fifth.

The top five were followed by Ultimate Battle, Apolitical Chiliast, Big Bang Rocket, Competent, and Snow Bound. 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

For more information, please contact larace@losalamitos.com. You can also follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @losalracing or visit us online at www.losalamitos.com.