LOS ALAMITOS, CA—JULY 3, 2020—Albert Rosiles' Rite Quick, the track record holder at 110 yards, showed that he's got enough of high octane to defeat top horses at 300 yards after scoring a half-length victory in the Grade 3, $25,000 Independence Day Handicap on Friday night at Los Alamitos.

Ridden by Erasmo Gasca for trainer Yanet Rodriguez, Rite Quick led from the gate to wire on the way to winning the Independence Day in the fastest 300-yard time of the meet. The gray gelding by Favorite Cartel covered the distance in :15.265, bettering the previous season best mark of :15.284 posted by Excessive Cartel on March 6.

"I'm not surprised," Rodriguez said of Rite Quick's win. "He had trouble last race. He blew off his two front horseshoes in that race. This time (Jesus Rios) Ayala was going to ride, but he has first call with Jaime Gomez barn. I asked Gasca if he could ride Rite Quick. He was on the horse when Rite Quick got the track record at 110 yards (on July of 2019). I figure I might as well put on the rider that knows the horse. Rite Quick is a very nice horse. He gives it his all every time."

With Gasca aboard, Rite Quick set the 110-yard track record at Los Alamitos of :06.99 on July 7, 2019. He also posted this meet's fastest 110-yard time when winning the Blink Of An Eye Handicap in :07.056 on February 29. Bred by Dr. Steve Burns, the $30,000 purchase at the 2016 Los Alamitos Equine Sale has also been a firecracker in stakes races at 300 and 350 yards.

He finished second in the Mr Jet Moore Handicap at 350 yards, second in the Cypress Handicap at 350 yardes and second in the Super Sound Charge at 300 yards. He's won nine of 26 starts, has hit the board in a total of 15 races, and has earned $87,085. Rite Quick earned $13,750 in the Independence Day.

"He's nice. He knows what to do," Rodriguez added. "He's like a puppy, he's so nice. I wish he would be the same way in the paddock that he is in the barn. He gets a little nervous in the paddock. Other than that, he's a puppy. He had been off for two months. I am hoping this race gets him nice and fit for a stakes race on California Breeders Champions Night on July 25."

Ruth Barbour, Colten O'Dell and Wendy O'Dell's Tac Me Up earned $5,625 for running second in the Cypress. He's now finished in the top three in 17 of 22 starts and his earnings now stand at $149,409. Genaro Martinez's Alamode, the winner of the Mr Jet Moore and runner-up in the Kaweah Bar Handicap, ran third in the Independence Day.

Ali Babe Foose, Galloping Goddess, Red Hawk Cartel, My Favorite Legacy and Cartel Rocks completed the field.

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Courtesy of www.losalamitos.com.