Caribbean springs a 15-1 upset under Justine Klaiber to capture the $50,000 Rolling A Ranch Matron Stakes on California Breeders Champions Night at Los Alamitos.

© William Zuazo

By Orlando Gutierrez

CYPRESS, CA–JULY 26, 2026–Burns Ranch is renowned as one of the premier Quarter Horse breeding operations in the country, home to California’s leading sires like Favorite Cartel, Mpshinning, and Golden Boi, along with a top-tier broodmare band. On California Breeders Champions Night, that stellar legacy was on full display as a pair of 3-year-old Favorite Cartel fillies—Caribbean and In The Lead—secured back-to-back stakes victories, proving they will eventually make outstanding additions to the ranch's broodmare roster.

Bred and owned by Dr. Steve Burns and trained by Mike Casselman, Caribbean kicked off the double in the fourth race, the $50,000 Rolling A Ranch Matron Stakes. Ridden by Justine Klaiber—stepping in for the injured Armando Viramontes—Caribbean broke sharply, established an early lead, and held off a late surge from Ed Allred’s 0.80-1 favorite Quick She Is to win by a nose in :17.948.

The 15-1 upset marked Caribbean’s third win in 15 starts, returning $32.80 to win and earning $27,500 to push her career bankroll to $47,198. Burns Ranch’s Competent finished third.

"We also had Competent in this race, who we thought was a little better, so this is a surprise win," Burns noted. "Things just worked out. It was a great race for Caribbean. The Favorite Cartels can go down the track and we're tickled with this result."

The victory marked the second consecutive year Burns has captured the Rolling A Ranch Matron, following Market Analyst's win last year.

Just 31 minutes later in the fifth race, the $30,000 California Debutante Stakes, the Burns, Casselman, and Klaiber trio returned to the winner’s circle. While Caribbean’s finish was a photo finish thriller, In The Lead dominated her 350-yard contest from gate to wire. Breaking fastest of all, the brown filly out of top producer You Can Fly built a comfortable margin early and won going away by two lengths in a blistering :17.622, returning $9.80 as the 3.90-1 second choice.

"We thought she had a good shot tonight, maybe our best shot," Burns said. "We're tickled with the way she ran. Halfway through the race, it was a good feeling to see her be so far in front. That doesn't happen very often."

Picking up $16,500 for her third career victory in 12 starts, In The Lead added another black-type victory to the family tree of You Can Fly, which includes Grade 1 winner You Can Run ($290,000). Allred’s 0.90-1 favorite Went To London finished second, earning $6,750, while Casselman-trained Me Shinning took third.

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