Aj Born Runnin, under jockey Eduardo Nicasio, won the $25,000 Florentine Handicap on Saturday at Los Alamitos Race Course.

© Amber Mendez

LOS ALAMITOS, CA–AUGUST 16, 2025–P and J Racing Ltd’s homebred AJ Born Runnin won the Florentine Handicap in convincing fashion on Saturday night at Los Alamitos and now looks ready to tackle the track’s biggest race for fillies and mares, the Grade 1, $100,000 Mildred Vessels Memorial Handicap on Saturday, September 13.

"We hope to come back for the Millie Vessels," owner Pam Williams said. "She’s a dream come true. She’s sound and has come close (to major stakes wins) many times, always by a little bit.  We can’t say enough about the job that (trainer) Jaime Gomez has done with her."

A 5-year-old gray mare by Apollitical Jess, AJ Born Runnin is now a three-time stakes winner at Los Alamitos. In addition to her Florentine victory, she was a two-time stakes winner in 2024, winning the Denim N Diamonds Handicap followed by the Virginia Hyland Stakes.

Her win in the Denim N Diamonds gave jockey Eduardo Nicasio his 100th Quarter Horse stakes win at Los Alamitos. Nicasio has piloted to her two other stakes wins as well.

"When the money is on the line, Nicasio is the man," Gomez said. "He’s the best. He’s really good. He takes things very seriously in the morning and does a great job at night. This mare, she’s her own worst enemy in the gates. If she breaks be careful. She’s tough. She’s gotten better with age."

AJ Born Runnin has now six of 25 starts, and her earnings of $13,750 in this race take her career total to $262,438. Racing from post number four in this race, AJ Born Runnin covered the 350 yards in :17.554.

In addition to her trio of stakes wins, her other top efforts include a second-place finish in the Justanold Love Stakes and a fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 Charger Bar Handicap earlier this season.

Reliance Ranches’ Relentless Looker Z earned $5,625 for runner-up effort. The 3-year-old filly by Hes Relentless had previously won back-to-back starts at Los Alamitos during the spring before going to Oklahoma and then Ruidoso Downs.

She had an excellent return bow at the Orange County oval, leading the early part of the Florentine before settling for second place. Justine Klaiber rode for trainer Albert Valles.

Deep Blue, Phoebes Baby Girl, and Jessica Cruz completed the field.

Jessica Cruz, the 2024 AQHA and PCQHRA champion aged mare, was making her first start since running in the Charger Bar. She reared just as the gate opened in this race and never had a chance to contend. She was third in last year’s Mildred Vessels.

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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.

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