Outtasyght, under jockey Armando Cervantes, posted the fastest time in the $97,500 Los Alamitos Maiden Stakes trials on Sunday night.

© Amber Mendez

LOS ALAMITOS, CA–FEBRUARY 2, 2025–Outtasyght, a winner of a trial to the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity, and Hott Favorite, a $750,000 purchase as a yearling, were among the impressive trial winners to qualify to the $97,500 Los Alamitos Maiden Stakes here on Sunday night.

A total of 36 sophomores competed in five trials at 350 yards with those with the 10 fastest times returning here for the final on Sunday, February 23.

Horses had to be maidens as of nomination day on November 1 to be eligible to the Maiden Stakes trials. Since that date, 11 posted victories, including Dunn Ranch's Outtasyght, who scored a ½ length win in his Two Million trial before finishing fourth to Favorite Jesshawk in the $30,000 Los Alamitos Two Million Invitational Juvenile.

Apollitical Joy and jockey Jose Nicasio set the second-fastest time in the fourth trial on Sunday night.
© Amber Mendez

A $320,000 purchase from Bobby Cox's consignment at the 2023 Heritage Place September Yearling Sale, Outtasyght returned to win the fifth and final trial of the night by a ½ lengths while posting the fastest qualifying time of :17.710.

This was his second win in five starts. Armando Cervantes rode the Apollitical Jess gelding out of Eye Popping for trainer Monty Arrossa. Outtasyght is a half-brother to Grade 1 All American Derby winner Instygator and Grade 1 Heritage Place Futurity winner Shott Gun.

Trainer Heath Taylor won the other four Maiden Stakes trials with L O S LLC's Apollitical Joy taking the fourth heat in the second fastest time of :17.724. Jose Nicasio was aboard the Apollitical Jess gelding, as he scored a nose victory over third fastest qualifier Invasive, who is owned by Tungsten Racing Partnership and Pavon Racing. Trained by Marc Junger, Invasive covered the distance :17.735.

Hot t Favorite, under jockey Jose Nicasio, qualified from the second trial on Sunday night. © Amber Mendez

Three others advanced from this trial in CM Cowgirls Are Cool, Gimy A Reason, and Uncle Willard.

Taylor also saddled Hott Favorite, the Fulton Quien Sabe Ranches Lp-bred colt, who won the second trial in the fourth fastest time of :17.743. The Texas-bred is by Favorite Cartel out of Pandorum, making him a half-brother to both AQHA champion and Grade 1 All American Derby winner Hotstepper and Grade 1 Ruidoso Futurity winner Hotsempting. He's also a half-brother to Grade 1 Ed Burke Million Futurity finalist Hot Prodigy. 

Hott Favorite was picking his second victory in a row at Los Alamitos after running third to Favorite Jesshawk in their trial to the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity.

"The horse is just now learning how to run," Taylor said. "We've had high aspirations for the horse early in the year. He actually won his schooling race in Ruidoso and the horse looked really good. He got sore in his shin, he's a really, really big horse and already looked like a 3-year-old as a yearling. That's probably one of the reasons for his elegant price because of his elegant looks. He stopped because of his shins and gave him time off. He was ready to race in the Two Million trials but he had not had a race in five months. He's really coming around now. I think he's a talented horse. I think he'll be an exceptional 400, 440, that's what he really wants to run."

Taylor added that Hott Favorite is also eligible to run in the trials to the Ruidoso, Rainbow, All American and Super Derby.

This trial also produced two other qualifiers in second place finisher CM Jesse B A Cowboy and third-place finisher Apprehensive. Randy Dickerson owned and bred CM Jesse B A Cowboy and the previously mentioned CM Cowgirls Are Cool.

Edward and Theresa DeNike's Mind Control, who was second to Outtasyght, also advanced to the Maiden Stakes final. 

CLICK HERE for the complete list of Los Alamitos Maiden Stakes qualifiers, with their times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers, and jockeys.

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