American Dreamin is one of ten incredible athletes headed into California's richest Quarter Horse race, the Grade 1 $1.8 million Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity, on Sunday.

© Los Alamitos

LOS ALAMITOS, CA–DECEMBER 14, 2024–Led by Dunn Ranch’s American Dreamin, the winner of the Grade 1 Golden State Million Futurity, and Monte and Katsy Cluck and Ross Roark’s Brown Coffeee, who is the fastest qualifier, a tremendous group of juveniles will face off in the 30TH running of California’s richest Quarter Horse, the $1,832,950 Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity here on Sunday night.

Brown Coffeee was hot and robust when he posted the top time to the Grade 1 final after winning his trial by 1 3/4 lengths. His winning time of 19.765 topped over 100 juveniles who competed in the trials on November 24. He’ll now look to give trainer Heath Taylor his second straight victory in the Two Million after he saddled eventual AQHA champion Trane Station V to victory in the 2023 running.

It’s a huge task, as his rivals will include American Dreamin, who is a perfect four for four at Los Alamitos, plus the Jose Flores-trained Walking Tool, who is undefeated in his four career starts. Other top names in the trials include Lethal Cowboy 123, the runner-up in the Golden State Million, and Devils Tower, the third-place finisher in the Grade 1 Ed Burke Million Futurity in June.

A gelding by Good Reason SA out of the Mr Jess Perry mare Amore La Blue, Brown Coffeee sizzled in his trial victory, which was the second win in three outings under the Orange County star. He’ll also look to match his sire’s victory in this race, accomplished by the champion Good Reason SA in 2009.  His dam was also highly accomplished, as Amore La Blue ran third in the Grade 1 Golden State Million Futurity final.

Bred by Silver Racing Farm, LLC., Brown Coffeee was purchased for $200,000 at the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale last year. His first three starts came in New Mexico and his efforts included a second-place finish in a trial to the Grade 1 All American Futurity and a third in his trial to the Grade 1 Rainbow Derby trials. At the Orange County oval, Brown Coffeee won his local debut by 1 1/2 lengths before finishing third as the favorite in a trial to the Golden State Million Futurity that also included American Dreamin, who went on to win the million-dollar final.                     

"He’s had the eye of the tiger," Taylor said after Brown Coffeee’s big trial victory. "I thought he was awesome in his maiden win here. He had some problems in his Golden State Million trial. I really like those horses (by Good Reason SA). We bought a full brother and a half-brother to this horse at the (2024) Ruidoso Sale because we really like this horse quite a bit. The Good Reason SA typically mature this time of year. They’re probably not Kindergarten type horses, 300 yards. They have a lot of Thoroughbred blood to them, so he should make a nice horse this winter and an even better derby horse next year."

Monte and Katsy Cluck have enjoyed great success in Quarter Horse racing as part of the ownership group of AQHA champion Ochoa, the 2012 All American Futurity and Rainbow Futurity winner and earner of more than $2.78 million.  Roark has been involved in many racing partnerships during his time as owner with Brown Coffeee as one of his biggest success stories.                 

"They’re super owners," Taylor added. "They let you do your job. When they sent the horse out, they said to just do the best you can. They always supply you with really nice horses and we’re really grateful for them."     

The connections of Brown Coffeee had the good fortune of also having the first pick to select their post position of choice during a special post position draw held on Wednesday afternoon. Taylor selected post number nine for Brown Coffeee, just to the inside of American Dreamin, who will race from the outside post 10, while also racing next to Keith Nellesen’s My Dunn, who will race from post number eight. Jose Nicasio will ride the Silver Racing Farm-bred runner.

Monty Arrossa won the Two Million Futurity with Apollitical Patty in 2020 and will now saddle another terrific filly in this race in American Dreamin. The Dunn Ranch homebred is by Apollitical Jess out of Sweet 16 and has won each of her four local starts by a half-length or more.

Armando Cervantes, who rode Apollitical Patty, will get the call on Americal Dreamin from the outside post. American Dreamin has earned $452,941 this year, the third highest total by a 2-year-old filly in 2024, only behind stablemate Up To Party and Dk Marney Jess.

Owned by Caliche Walls Venture, Alan Isbell, Lance Bland and Jimmy Barton, Lethal Cowboy 123 will start from post number two, which could be a wonderful starting spot for the son of Flying Cowboy 123. Trained by Marc Jungers, who in the 1980s was the groom of the great champion Denim N Diamonds, Lethal Cowboy 123 ran second to American Dreamin in the Golden State Million from post number two. He also lugged out badly from racing from the far outside post in his trials, even though he still posted the second-fastest qualifying time of 19.79. Edwin Escobedo will ride the $150,000 Los Alamitos Equine Sale yearling.

"He ran a great race from post number two in the Golden State," Jungers said. "We’re thankful we got the two hole here. He loves the distance and can go down the racetrack."

In the 29-year history of this race, no horse has won the Two Million final with an undefeated record. Walking Tool will look to be the first to accomplish that feat.  Owned by Rodrigo Ayala, Guadalupe Bujanda and Jose Flores, Walking Tool has been magnificent, winning the Ah Sigh Stakes and posting a 1 3/4 length win in his trial.

George and Ruben Villalobos bred the son of Walk Thru Fire. Cruz Mendez, the 2024 Sam Thompson Jockey Award recipient, will pilot Walking Tool from post six. Flores, who’ll saddle Walking Tool, will also saddle Apolitical Chilitas in this race. She had the good fortune to win the shake for this race's 10th and final starting spot.

Owned by J. Francisco Diaz and trained by his son, Lindolfo, Cowboy Bolt will start from post seven with Jesus Rios Ayala up. This is the third year in a row that the father/son duo has had a starter in the Two Million final.

Trainer Juan Aleman will saddle a pair of talented runners in this race in Devils Tower, who races for Gamaliel Garza Garcia, and Ohana Spirit, who is owned by Gentry Farms. Mario Montiel’s Show N Tell Cartel, who was claimed for $16,000 out of the Los Alamitos Claiming Futurity, will start in this rich event for trainer Elena Andrade from post number four.

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