Slatedtoshine (7), under jockey Gabriel Lara, edges past Ruse Ticle Knockout to capture the $25,000 La Pacifica Handicap Saturday night at Los Alamitos Race Course.

© Sylvia Gonzalez

By Orlando Gutierrez

CYPRESS, CA–MAY 2, 2026– The Schvaneveldt silks continue to grace the winner’s circle in stakes races at Los Alamitos, just as they have done since 1968 at the Orange County oval. Owned by Mark Smith and Shirley Schvaneveldt, the talented 3-year-old filly Slatedtoshine outdueled Grade 1 Los Alamitos Oaks finalist Ruse Ticle Knockout to win the $25,000 La Pacifica Handicap on Saturday night.

The Schvaneveldt name is one of the most storied in the history of Quarter Horse racing. The late Blane Schvaneveldt, a legendary horseman, remains the track’s all-time leading Quarter Horse trainer in both total wins (3,982) and stakes wins (387). His family continues to carry that legacy forward with a solid barn of horses, now headlined by the gritty Slatedtoshine.

Now a winner of three of five starts this season, the filly by Mpshinning trailed Leavin The Cartel during the early stages of the La Pacifica before Ruse Ticle Knockout—who recently ran third in the $415,500 Los Alamitos Oaks—joined the fray. Slatedtoshine and Ruse Ticle Knockout put on a spectacular show from there, with Shirley’s star filly prevailing by a head in the 350-yard dash. Guided by Gabriel Lara, she stopped the clock in :17.550.

Few people have been part of the Los Alamitos fabric longer than Shirley, the widow of the track's all-time leading trainer. Slatedtoshine has provided her family plenty of reasons to smile this year; after qualifying for the Los Alamitos Maiden Stakes earlier this season, her overall record now stands at four wins from 12 starts with career earnings of $66,777. Shirley’s son-in-law, trainer Roman Figueroa, conditions the Adan Paredes-bred filly, who secured the win from post number seven. Originally purchased for $9,500 at the Los Alamitos Equine Sale, Slatedtoshine earned $13,750 for her stakes victory.

“We bought [Slatedtoshine] because she’s from dad’s family, the Blane Schvaneveldt family,” said Shonna Smith, wife of co-owner Mark Smith and daughter of Blane and Shirley. “Slated was a mare that dad had, and that’s why we wanted her. We’re so proud of her and so happy to see her wearing the Blane Schvaneveldt silks. It’s so exciting for her to win a stakes race. We’re thrilled—we couldn’t even believe it. She’s beautiful, and we love her.”

Slatedtoshine’s dam is multiple winner Slated For Royalty, while her granddam is Slated, a multiple allowance winner at Los Alamitos owned and bred by Blane Schvaneveldt, John Andreini, and Ron Keller.

“[Mom] is thrilled to have this horse," Shonna added. "She had to stay home and watch the race. She’s 92 years old, but it’s very exciting for her to have a horse wearing the Schvaneveldt colors and doing so well.”

Mi Serenity’s Ruse Ticle Knockout was one of five Los Alamitos Oaks finalists entered in the field. The daughter of Apollitical Jess earned $5,625 for her runner-up effort under jockey Justine Klaiber for trainer Eddie Willis.

The competitive field also featured multi-graded stakes finalist The Lady Is A Vamp, alongside four sharp allowance winners from the 2026 season. Woodhouse-Singleton Racing’s Walk When I Walk finished third for trainer Sergio Morfin, while Larry and Bobbie Rice’s Leavin The Cartel finished fourth. Fancy Upp, The Lady Is A Vamp, In The Lead, Shiny New, and Straight Tequila completed the field. French Valley, also an Oaks finalist, was scratched from the event.

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