Bertrando Stakes
$100.00 – For Three Year Olds And Upward Foaled in CA
1 Mile – Dirt
Los Alamitos – June 20, 2026

The conditions of the race made horses three and up bred in California eligible to run. Only one three-year-old showed up to take on his elders and that was Wizardly. It was the first time that the Barcelona Farms homebred had stepped outside of his own age group and, as a reward, he came away with his second straight stakes win and the $60.00 winner’s share of the purse. Befitting a California bred race the sun was shining in Orange County as Wizardly hit the wire in 1:34.64 which was short of the stakes mark of 1:34.46 set last year by Good Guy.

Winner: Wizardly (Barcelona Farms/K. Kimura) Tactical Wizard/Tweetie Pie (Scion Of Decima) Broke well and took up a nice spot just off the rail alongside Mr Cockypants early about two lengths off of the early pacesetter Scrupulous. Began to move with a half mile to go and came into the stretch looking for some racing room. It looked like traffic might be his undoing until Scrupulous began to tire and drift with three sixteenths of a mile to go and Wizardly took advantage of the opening surging through to collar Mr Cockypants in the final furlong and draw off by a widening half length.

Second: Mr Cockypants (La Canada Racehorses) No Doubt Bronze/Rattling Old Beater (Timber Rattler) Had the perfect stalking trip down along the rail sitting off the early pace and having a free lane to run in the stretch. It looked like he might be home free until Wizardly found room and ran him down late. In the end, carrying two pounds more than his younger rival, Mr Cockypants could not overcome his heavier load. 

Third: Rocket Bizz (Luz International/K.J. Desormeaux) What A Beast/Fashion Business (Engine Failure) Kept towards the back of the pack early by his pilot he was actually last entering the long stretch and was moving best of everyone late but just did not have enough real estate to catch the top two finishers. Very good showing by this recent claim. 

Fourth: Transformer (The Sidley Stud/A. Ayuso) Apples To Oranges/Chick Alert (On High Alert) Was stalking along with the eventual top finishers in the early going. Was willing in the stretch but could not quite match the top two or hold off the late charge of Rocket Bizz but dug in enough to grab the final check. 

Preview Pick: Mr Cockypants – second. Picked the exacta in reverse order… just like real life!

This was the first win in the Bertrando Stakes for both Barcelona Farms as well as jockey K. Kimura. As mentioned, it was the second straight stakes win for Wizardly who has now won three of his seven races while earning a total of $170.17. He was bred in California by owner/trainer Barcelona Farms and they now stand third among all breeders in the Golden State this year.

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded