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Man Child and Wizard of Westwood were both first out winners in a pair of $50,000 maiden races for 2-year-olds Sunday at Los Alamitos.
A son of Tu Brutus and the Purge mare Figrare, Wizard of Westwood had to share his victory as he finished in a dead heat with President Z, the only juvenile with previous race experience who competed in the two events on the fifth day of the Los Angeles County Fair meet.
Trained by Michael McCarthy for Andrew and Rania Warren, Wizard of Westwood, a 4-1 shot ridden by Diego Herrera, surged near the wire to finish on even terms with President Z, a 2-1 shot who had finished sixth on turf in his debut 23 days earlier.
A $20,000 purchase at the 2021 Keeneland September sale, Wizard of Westwood paid $4.60, $5 and $3 while President Z, a Kantharos colt owned by Equilete Stable and trained by Eoin Harty, returned $3.40, $3.60 and $2.60. They completed five furlongs in 57.93 seconds and both earned $20,000.
Odonata, the 5-2 second choice, finished three lengths back in third and returned $2.60 to show.
Three races earlier, Man Child, a $45,000 buy at the same sale as Wizard of Westwood, led throughout, repelling all challenges through the stretch to win by a half-length over 13-10 favorite Abeliefinthislivin.
Owned by a partnership that includes Ciaglia Racing Partners, Ciaglia Racing LLC, Richard Pearson and trainer Ryan Hanson and his wife Michelle, the son of Creative Cause and the More Than Ready mare Neck of the Moon completed five furlongs in 58.17.
The 4-1 third choice under leading rider Ramon Vazquez, Man Child paid $10.80, $5 and $3.20. The victory was worth $30,000.
A debuting Arrogate colt owned by Peter Redekop BC Ltd and trained by Peter Miller, Abeliefinthislivin rallied widest of all to gain the pace, a half-length in front of stablemate South Coast Route. Abeliefinthislivin returned $3.20 and $2.60 while the show price on 5-1 shot South Coast Route was $3.60.
Vazquez, who also won the first with Spring Spinning, has eight wins, three more than Tyler Baze, who also doubled Sunday. John Sadler tops the trainer standings with five victories.
Racing resumes Monday at Los Alamitos. Post time is 1 p.m.
The main event on the special 4th of July program is the Grade II, $200,000 Great Lady M. Stakes for fillies and mares – 3-year-olds & up – at 6 ½ furlongs. The field of seven is headed by Becca Taylor, a winner of eight of nine for owner-breeder Nick Alexander and trainer Steve Miyadi.
The Great Lady M. is the last of nine races and has a scheduled post time of 4:58 p.m.
The Los Alamitos Racing Association is also hosting a handicapping contest today and two spots in the 2023 National Handicapping Championship in Las Vegas are up for grabs.
