LOS ALAMITOS, CA—DECEMBER 28, 2012—Jockey Cruz Mendez began the new racing season at Los Alamitos in the way he finished the last season at the Cypress oval. Mendez, who enjoyed his first Quarter Horse riding title after winning 170 races in 2011-2012, began the new season on Friday night by winning four of the five Quarter Horse races contested on the meet’s opening card.

Mendez won the first Quarter Horse race of the season with Eladin Flores’ Swingin Jess gelding Eladins Dream in the third race at 330 yards and quickly followed it with a winning ride aboard Gerald Kaul’s Dashin Moon Shadow gelding Secret River Run in the sixth race at 300 yards. Mendez kept on rolling with David and Ross Hinkins’ Hugo Streakin filly RGR Down N Dirty in the seventh race at 300 yards.

Young rider Ruben Lozano piloted Jose and Gustavo De La Torre’s Snow Buddy to victory in the eighth race at 350 yards to spoil Mendez’s perfect night, but the leading pilot bounced right back in the ninth and final race on the card by guiding Antonio Flores’ Carters Cartel gelding Special Seal to victory at 300 yards.

Trainer Jose Flores enjoyed a double on opening night, as he saddled Special Seal and Eladins Dream. Flores and Mendez joined forces with the filly Matabari to win the $2,108,750 Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity on December 16.

Racing continues at Los Alamitos on Saturday evening with the second night of the 2012-2013 racing season. Mendez has five mounts on the night and will team up with Flores twice. First post time is 6 p.m. (Pacific).

Courtesy of www.losalamitos.com