Pattys Saint is one of several elite fillies and mares to head the Abigail Kawananakoa Stakes on Saturday at Los Alamitos

© Coady Photography

LOS ALAMITOS–JUNE 12, 2024–The running of the Abigail Kawananakoa Stakes, which is the second $100,000 stakes event of the meet in the distaff division, will feature one of the strongest casts of Quarter Horse fillies and mares assembled this year led by 14-time stakes winner Pattys Saint, red-hot mare AJ Born Runnin and multiple Grade 1 stakes finalist Fearless Moon on Saturday at Los Alamitos. A field of 10 will compete in the 350-yard dash.                       

Dunn Ranch’s Pattys Saint is the marquee name in this outstanding race, as the queen of the Intermountain region looks to continue to shine in Southern California. The 6-year-old mare by Jess Got Easier scored her third graded stakes win at Los Alamitos on May 5 when she took the Grade 3, $60,000 Miss Princess Handicap by a length.

In her 2024 debut, Pattys Saint won the Grade 1 Charger Bar Handicap, which is the meet’s first $100,000 race in this division. A victory in the Abigail Kawananakoa would give Pattys Saint wins in three richest races for mares held at Los Alamitos, as she also won the $125,000 Mildred Vessels Memorial Handicap in September of 2022.

The R.L. Harrison Idaho-bred has won 19 times in 27 career starts, including that lofty figure of 14 stakes victories: 19th victory and 14th in a stakes race in 27 career starts. Purchased by Dunn Ranch last year from the  Harrison family, Pattys Saint has earned $350,652 in her career.                   

“She’s just a great horse,” said Matt Dunn. “These horses come just once in a lifetime. A mare like this just keeps getting stronger. She’s sound and does her job every time. She’s fun to watch, and it’ll be fun to see what the future has in store for her. Our plan is to (keep racing) her this year, improve her record, and make her a broodmare for the future. The plan for her is to stay with Dunn Ranch.”

Gentry Farms’ great history in the distaff division at Los Alamitos includes recent AQHA champion Kiss Thru Fire and stakes winners College Scandal and In My Heart. Their top mare right now is Fearless Moon, already a $400,687 earner and a multiple graded stakes placed mare.

The homebred by First Moonflash was second to Pattys Saint in the Charger Bar and was fourth to Jeriko in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Super Derby last year. Against sophomore fillies, Fearless Moon was the Grade 1 All American Oaks runner-up, the third-place finisher in the Grade 1 Rainbow Oaks, and a finalist in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Oaks.                                          

The list of other contenders in the Abigail will also feature P & J Racing’s AJ Born Runnin, a two-time stakes winner this year after taking the Denim N Diamonds on February 24 and the Virginia Hyland on April 13. The Jaime Gomez-trainee will need to be at her best against Pattys Saint after running sixth in the Charger Bar and fourth in the Miss Princess in their first two meetings of the year.

Ed Allred’s Nymphette is a top performer at the high stakes levels, as the now 5-year-old lightly raced mare ran second as a 3-year-old facing older distaffers in the 2022 Grade 1 Mildred Vessels and earlier this year finished third to Pattys Saint in the Grade 1 Charger Bar. The Fly Thru The Fire mare made her career debut as a 3-year-old, winning a maiden event, and since has competed in eight stakes races in her nine career starts.

Among the other six contenders in this race, five are Los Alamitos stakes winners, including James Smith Memorial Stakes winner Jessica Cruz, who also finished second to Pattys Saint in the Miss Princess, Go Josie Go Handicap winner Budder Off Friends, Connie Hall Stakes winner Tena Rena, and the last two Dashing Folly Stakes winners Remember Her and  Gotta Corona Jess. Two-time allowance winner Favorite Lady Cartel will complete the field.