Miss Isao Jqu headlines the $35,000 Virginia Hyland Stakes at Los Alamitos on Saturday

© Los Alamitos

LOS ALAMITOS–APRIL 9, 2025–Pedro Barbizan Santiago Leite’s talented Brazilian Miss Isao Jqm will make her third stakes appearance of the season when she headlines a solid group of eight fillies and mares in the running of the $35,000 Virginia Hyland Stakes at 350 yards.

Miss Isao Jqm was a very game second to multiple stakes winner Nymphette in the Denim N Diamonds Stakes on February 22 and before that she won the Dashingly Handicap as part of the undercard stakes on the night of the Grade 1 Charger Bar Handicap for mares.

One of the greatest Brazilian Quarter Horse racing mares ever, Miss Isao Jqm will look to take another step towards a possible Grade 1 stakes race at Los Alamitos as she ranks among the top contenders in the Virginia Hyland.

To be ridden by Eduardo Nicasio, the 6-year-old by Mr Jess Perry will start from along the rail while going after her third win since arriving from South America last year. The homebred mare has finished first or second in all six of her starts since her arrival.

Steve Burns’ Temple Court, who was third in the Denim N Diamonds and second behind Miss Isao Jqm in the Dashingly, will also be in action in the Virginal Hyland. The Favorite Cartel mare will start from post number two.

Starting on the outside part of the track, Nathali Pacheco and Ricardo and Salvador Pineda’s Ecstatik will look to score her second straight win. The winner of the La Pacifica Handicap last year, Ecstatik scored a strong allowance win in her last start here on March 9.

Reliance Ranches’ Hott Temptation, one of two sophomore fillies in this race, will look to upset her older rivals when she comes in after running in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Oaks on March 22. David Hinkins’ VGK Zigfield Follies is the other filly in this race.

She ran in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Winter Derby on February 15. Magic Folly, an allowance winner here in early January; 2023 La Pacifica winner One Sweet Duck; and 2024 Grade 1 Rainbow Oaks finalist Tempting Barbie will complete the field.

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