Your First Moon Shines Bright at Los Alamitos

Your First Moon, a 13-1 shot, gave the Vessels Stallion Farm and trainer Danny Cardoza their second consecutive win in the $1,256,600 Los Alamitos Million Futurity with a decisive win late Saturday night.

Ridden by Dusty Stimpson, who was aboard Dashing Knud for the same connections in the Grade I in 2000, Your First Moon won for the sixth time in nine starts. The gray daughter of First Down Dash completed the 400 yards in 19.76 seconds in beating 48-1 shot Corona Music by 11/2 lengths.

Tres Seis, the 3-5 favorite and the best of four horses saddled by trainer John Bassett, was third after breaking poorly under jockey Joe Badilla Jr.

“He whipped his head just when they opened the gate,” said Badilla, who was riding for the first time since he broke his jaw Dec. 6.

Second in her Futurity trial behind fastest qualifier Royaltime Classic, who was not a factor Saturday, Your First Moon won the richest race run in California and returned $29 to her supporters. Her race in the Nov. 30 trial was her first start in more than four months.

“It’s funny how things work,” said owner Frank Vessels said. “Perhaps being out for four months was a good thing.

“She was facing a lot of horses that campaigned hard the entire year--like Tres Seis--and maybe the fact that she got a long rest made the difference.”