Persuasive Paul wins opening day feature at Los Alamitos
Persuasive Paul remained perfect at Los Alamitos and made jockey Austin Solis a winner with his second mount at the track in the $21,380 feature on opening day of the Los Angeles County Fair meet.
A double winner at Los Alamitos in 2014 when trained by Steve Knapp, Persuasive Paul, a 6-year-old Olomodavor gelding, ended a six-race losing streak Thursday with his come-from-behind score over Hawk’s Eyes and seven others.
Solis, the son of Hall of Fame rider and current California Horse Racing Board member Alex Solis, finished second aboard Blackford in the meet opener with his first local mount. The rider, who will turn 24 Oct. 27, earned his initial career victory Dec. 22, 2013 at Tampa Bay Downs.
Trained by Marc Shapoff for Bran Jam Stable and Clark, Persuasive Paul, who is out of the Lure mare Witch of the Air, completed the one mile in 1:36.53. The 5-1 fourth choice, the Florida bred gelding paid $13.20, $7 and $4.40. The 2 ½ length win was his 10th in 37 starts and increased his earnings to $291,667.
Hawk’s Eyes, the 9-2 third choice who was looking for his third consecutive win and fourth in his last five starts, took over the lead early in the stretch, but was no match for the winner late. He returned $6.20 and $4.60 while finishing three-quarters of a length in front of 4-1 second choice Dive Down. The show price on Dive Down was $3.60.
Completing the order of finish were Atascaderan, L’s Choice, What We Doing, Carlos Dangerous, the 7-2 favorite, Accelerant and Ladies Man.
Although he didn’t have a mount in the feature, jockey Stewart Elliott got off to a quick start at the 12-day meet, winning three times.
Ellliott, who entered the Fall season with four wins previously at Los Alamitos, took the second with Skookum Spirit ($9.20), the fifth aboard Fact of Life ($7.80) for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, and the eighth with heavily-favored Rocky’s Rainbow ($3.20).
Racing resumes Friday at Los Alamitos. Post time is 2 p.m.
Source: Los Alamitgos Race Course