Cardoza Has a Chance to Get Even in Tonight’s Los Alamitos Feature

If Gold Coast Express should beat First Down Dash tonight in the $100,000 Los Alamitos Championship for quarter horses, jockey Danny Cardoza will get some extra satisfaction.

Cardoza, who rides Gold Coast Express, used to ride First Down Dash and won five of six races with him last year.

When First Down Dash went from trainer Mike Robbins to Blane Schvaneveldt, however, Cardoza lost the mount and was replaced by James Lackey, who is 5 for 6 with the 3-year-old colt this year. Cardoza has been talking about showing that the switch was a mistake and he’ll have his chance tonight.

Gold Coast Express is a 4-year-old gelding who was voted world champion--Horse of the Year--in 1986. He comes into tonight’s race off a win by a nose over Kipscash in the Vessels Maturity, which at 440 yards is the same distance as the Championship. Kipscash took the early lead in the Vessels when Gold Coast Express had a rough start out of the gate.

Kipscash is also in tonight’s 10-horse field.

First Down Dash won his fifth straight race two weeks ago, taking the Dash for Cash Derby--named after First Down Dash’s sire--in a stakes-record time of 21.37 seconds, barely better than Gold Coast Express’ clocking in the Vessels.