LOS ALAMITOS, CA—DECEMBER 12, 2009—Vince Genco loves to see his horses run in the mud. Genco, who manages Quarter Horses in North America for various Brazilian-based horsemen, cheered on the rain in 2006 when the colt No Secrets Here won the All American Futurity in New Mexico for one of his clients.

With that as precedence, Genco had a million good reasons to smile when the weather report guaranteed rain in Orange County for Friday's running of the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity at 400 yards.

From there the Paul Jones-trained Good Reason SA poured it on in upset style, winning the $2,000,000 Los Alamitos Two Million by a neck over favorite Apollitical Jess in the nation's richest Quarter Horse race. In the winner's circle, Genco was dancing in the mud after Good Reason SA sent him to the winner's circle on behalf of owner Gianni Samaja after covering the distance in :19.361. Watch Video.

"This horse is owned by a great guy from Brazil named Gianni Samaja," Genco said. "Gianni has some health issues that keep from coming to the United States but this win will do wonders for his spirit. Gianni has won everything there is to win in Quarter Horse racing in Brazil, but this is without a doubt that biggest race that he's ever won. I'm going to be traveling to Brazil after the New Year's Day, so I'm sure we're going to have a great party in Brazil."

The SA in the name of Good Reason SA stands not only for Samaja's ranch, Santo Angelo, but also for South America, a region of the world that is currently experiencing great growth in Quarter Horse racing. On Saturday night, Stylish Jess BR in the $750,000 Champion of Champions will represent another of Genco's clients, fashion designer Benny Rosset.

"Benny is the co-owner of No Secrets Here," Genco said. "When No Secrets Here won I remember that I did not want to leave the winner's circle. That's how I feel right now. I could stay in here all night. Now Gianni has a million dollar race winner of his own. I'm so happy for these guys."

Ridden by Ramon Sanchez, Good Reason SA grossed $834,720 for his win at odds of 23-1. This was his third win in four starts. He had only earned $6,075 in his career prior to this race, the lowest amount ever for a horse that went on to win this race.

"We didn't start this horse until later in the year," Jones said of the colt sired by 1997 Thoroughbred racing Horse of the Year Favorite Trick. "He had a stress fracture in the tibia. When we worked him on August 8 I told Vince 'I think we have a runner here.' "

In his racing debut on September 10, Good Reason SA won in a time of :15.20 to give him the fastest 300-yard time for a 2-year-old at Los Alamitos this season.

"He then had a little bad luck in the trials to the Golden State Million Futurity but he came back to win his trial to the Los Alamitos Two Million," Genco said. "His caretaker said he was ready for this race and he was. This colt has an attitude. He's a little ornery. He can also be clown. He will try to bite you or kick you. Stylish Jess Br is the same way. In my limited experience around horses, I think that you need that little bit of attitude and personality. We have a (sibling) to ($500,000 winner) Fantastic Corona Jr and when they told that the horse tried to kick someone I said, 'oh good!' " Genco added with a laugh.

Jones has trained a couple of other outstanding Favorite Trick sons, including the outstanding distance champion gelding Prankster CF back in 2005.

"One of the exciting things for me about this win is the role of Favorite Trick," Jones added. "Favorite Trick is no longer alive but I'm happy about what his sons have accomplished this year. Favorite Trick has a horse that qualified to the All American Futurity (Favorite Cartel) and now he has the winner of the Los Alamitos Two Million. I think it puts a feather on the cap of Favorite Trick. He was going to become a great sire of Quarter Horses. Maybe (Good Reason SA) will take over and become a great stallion."

Sanchez, meanwhile, is the first jockey to ever win the sport's two richest races - the All American Futurity and Los Alamitos Two Million - in the same year. Sanchez piloted Runnning Brook Gal to victory in the All American on Labor Day to give him his first win ever in the race.

His winning ride aboard Good Reason SA was also his first ever in the "Deuce". His best ever effort in this race prior to this evening came in 2007 when he piloted Eye For Corona to a second place finish to One Famous Eagle.

The leading contender to be named AQHA Champion Jockey, Sanchez's earnings for 2009 are a nation's best $4.5 million. He won the title as the nation's top rider in 2002 to make him the last jockey not named G.R. Carter to win the award.

"Ramon is one of the best money riders in the nation," Jones said. "I told him before the race, 'you are the man to take (Good Reason SA) there.' He's a cool customer in the saddle. We've won numerous Los Alamitos Super Derbies, a couple of Champion of Champions, an All American Futurity, and many other races. He's a great rider."

Jones and Sanchez combined to win the All American with Runnning Brook Gal earlier this year. The nation's leading trainer, Jones has also posted an unofficial new single season mark for money earned thanks to a big Friday night at Los Alamitos. With Good Reason SA finishing first and his other trainee, AB Knight, running fourth, Jones earned $938,840 in this race. He also saddled First Down King to a dead-heat for first in the $30,000 Los Alamitos Juvenile Invitational. The money adds to give him a single season earnings mark of $6,973,127 in 2009. Jones set the previous record of $6,972,337 last year. AQHA will confirm the figures in the days to come. Regardless, Jones will certainly own the record after Saturday's $750,000 Champion of Champions, as he has four horses in the race.

By the way, that's not the only mark that Jones could set this year. The seven-time AQHA Champion Trainer could end the year Quarter Horse racing's all-time leading trainer in total money earned. Jones is at around $54 million for his career.

Blane Schvaneveldt's all-time record is a little more than $54.8 million. It is only a matter of time before Jones reaches the mark. He could still add big chunks of money this year with Saturday's $750,000 Champion of Champions, plus he has runners in Sunday's $158,850 Southern California Derby, and there are a couple of other good money races here next weekend, including the First Down Dash Handicap on December 19.

For Jones, this Los Alamitos Two Million win felt like if it was his first ever in this race.

"I won this race once before with A Regal Choice," Jones said. "That was the race that we lost by a nose but there was an inquiry after we got bumped and we were moved up from second to first. Although we won the race, I felt sorry for the connections of the second place horse in that race (Corona for Me). We won the race but I didn't really feel comfortable winning it through a disqualification. It's different tonight. Tonight I feel like I won this race."

Trainer Juan Aleman saddled the second and third place finishers in this race in even money favorite Apollitical Jess and 20-1 longshot Fovee. Apollitical Jess, a son of Mr Jess Perry out of champion Apollitical Time earned $325,720 for running second for Juan Alberto Tirado Lizarraga. Robert Gentry's Fovee, who is the daughter of the Kentucky-based stallion Cuvee, earned $229,920.

"Good Reason SA broke too fast," said Eduardo Nicasio, who piloted Apollitical Jess. "We didn't break as well. He stumbled a little bit leaving the gate. He was flying late. He just didn't get as good of a break. I think Apollitical Jess still proved that he is a great horse. Next year he will be one of the best 3-year-olds around."

AB Knight, Voulez Vous, Tools Of Fire, Mollys Cartel, Crystal Sola, Shining First Dash, and Forrest Fire completed the field.

Courtesy of www.losalamitos.com