A stretch to two turns proved no problem for Straight Up G as the Straight Fire colt scored a decisive gate-to-wire victory in the $102,000 King Glorious Stakes Sunday, the final day of the Winter meet at Los Alamitos Race Course in Cypress, Calif.
Under jockey Ricardo Gonzalez, Straight Up G, who is owned by breeder Jim Rome's Jungle Racing LLC, easily dispatched of early challengers Moose Mitchell and Thirsty Always to draw clear in the stretch and ultimately prevail by 3 ½ lengths in the race for 2-year-olds bred or sired in California.
Trained by Richard Baltas, who also trains the colt's half-sister Gidgetta, Straight Up G, who is out of the Sky Mesa mare Gidget Girl, completed the mile in 1:36.88 and returned $6.00, $4.20, and $3.00 as the 2-1 second choice in the field of nine. He's now won twice in three races and earned $105,660. His King Glorious win came three weeks after he graduated by 5 ½ lengths going six furlongs at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif.
“This horse has a lot of natural speed,'' said Baltas. “I left it up to (Gonzalez). I told him just break well and go from there. He's always worked really, really well. He's a good horse and he's got a good mind.''
Gonzalez, who is now 2-for-2 on Straight Up G, said he very felt confident about how the race was going to turn out shortly after the start.
“He broke very sharp, and when we got to the first turn, he was moving his ears back and forth so I knew it was game over right there,'' he said. “I knew it was going to be a stroll in the park.''
Finneus, who defeated eventual Los Alamitos Futurity winner Slow Down Andy to win the Golden State Juvenile Nov. 5 at Del Mar, rallied for second as the 19-10 favorite. He paid $3.00 and $2.40 while finishing 1 ¾ lengths in front of 3-1 third choice Fast Draw Munnings. The show price on Fast Draw Munnings, who was a first-out maiden winner Sept. 17 at Los Alamitos, was $3.20.
Fowler Blue, Moose Mitchell, Divine Feminine, Socal Red, Thirsty Always, and So I'm Told completed the order of finish.
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