Defending Champ (USA) Horse
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About
Defending Champ is a 4yo brown gelding from the United States trained by Scott Willoughby. He is by Favorite Cartel out of Eagle On The Fly and has chalked up five wins in his career. On July 27, 2025 at Los Alamitos Racecourse, he secured his most notable victory, taking the $175000.00 Governor's Cup Derby.
Raced At
Los Alamitos RacecourseRace Record
| Event Summary | Runner Stats | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Los Alamitos Racecourse 09-Mar-26 366m GOOD R8 Brad Mckinzie Winter Championship Stakes (Stakes) (of $135,500) Barrier 5 off slow, lugged out, no threat. 1st Favorite Jesshawk ( M Arriaga 126 ) 2nd Lethal Cowboy 123 ( E G Escobedo 126 ) 0.05L 3rd Kevins Wise Corona ( E Nicasio 126 ) 0.30L 8th Defending Champ ( G A G Lara 126 ) 2.25L See full results | G A G Lara 57.2kg 2.25L | 8 (9) |
| Los Alamitos Racecourse 21-Dec-25 320m R7 A Ransom Handicap Stakes (Stakes) (of $22,000) Barrier 4 1st Eyesa Wagon My Tale ( E G Escobedo 126 ) 2nd Clareets Boy ( J Klaiber 126 ) 1.50L 3rd Special Batch ( J Roman 126 ) 2.00L 6th Defending Champ ( G A G Lara 126 ) 3.25L See full results | G A G Lara 57.2kg 3.25L | 6 (6) |
| Los Alamitos Racecourse 01-Dec-25 366m R8 Race 8 (of $8,000) Barrier 3 1st Show N Tell Cartel ( C Franco 126 ) 2nd Ohana Spirit ( M Arriaga 127 ) 0.10L 3rd Train B Taka ( E G Escobedo 126 ) 0.35L 7th Defending Champ ( G A G Lara 126 ) 2.60L See full results | G A G Lara 57.2kg 2.60L | 7 (9) |
| Los Alamitos Racecourse 20-Oct-25 366m R9 Race 9 (of $8,000) Barrier 5 1st Devils Tower ( M Arriaga 126 ) 2nd Astronomical 123 ( R Lozano 126 ) 0.50L 3rd Gimy a Reason ( I Lara 126 ) 0.75L 6th Defending Champ ( G A G Lara 126 ) 1.75L See full results | G A G Lara 57.2kg 1.75L | 6 (7) |
| Los Alamitos Racecourse 07-Sep-25 366m R8 Golden State Derby (Stakes) $33,541 (of $197,300) Barrier 10, Winning Time: 02:37.420 1st Favorite Jesshawk ( R S Ramirez 126 ) 2nd Defending Champ ( G A G Lara 126 ) 0.50L 3rd Beach Walk ( E Nicasio 126 ) 1.75L See full results | G A G Lara 57.2kg 0.50L | 2 (9) |
| Los Alamitos Racecourse 17-Aug-25 366m R8 Race 8 $4,400 (of $8,000) Barrier 7, Winning Time: 02:36.470 battled gamely, won bob. 1st Defending Champ ( G A G Lara 126 ) 2nd Favorite Jesshawk ( R S Ramirez 126 ) 0.05L 3rd Astronomical 123 ( R Lozano 126 ) 1.30L See full results | G A G Lara 57.2kg | 1 (8) |
| Los Alamitos Racecourse 27-Jul-25 366m R4 Governor's Cup Derby (Stakes) $71,400 (of $175,000) Barrier 8, Winning Time: 02:36.920 up close, best late. 1st Defending Champ ( G A G Lara 126 ) 2nd Favorite Jesshawk ( R S Ramirez 126 ) 0.75L 3rd Its On You ( M Arriaga 126 ) 1.50L See full results | G A G Lara 57.2kg | 1 (10) |
| Los Alamitos Racecourse 06-Jul-25 366m R8 Race 8 $4,400 (of $8,000) Barrier 5, Winning Time: 02:38.120 in range, best late. 1st Defending Champ ( G A G Lara 126 ) 2nd Party Time Tom ( A R Cervantes 126 ) 0.25L 3rd Its On You ( R S Ramirez 126 ) 0.75L See full results | G A G Lara 57.2kg | 1 (9) |
| Los Alamitos Racecourse 24-Mar-25 366m R9 El Primero Del Ano Derby (Stakes) $40,052 (of $235,600) Barrier 8, Winning Time: 02:00.370 bit slow, lost path briefly, rallied, missed. 1st Show N Tell Cartel ( C Franco 126 ) 2nd Defending Champ ( G A G Lara 126 ) 0.10L 3rd Train B Taka ( E G Escobedo 126 ) 0.15L See full results | G A G Lara 57.2kg 0.10L | 2 (8) |
| Los Alamitos Racecourse 03-Mar-25 366m R9 Race 9 $4,400 (of $8,000) Barrier 4, Winning Time: 02:39.230 brushed start, rolling late. 1st Defending Champ ( G A G Lara 126 ) 2nd Speed Favorite ( R Aceves 126 ) 0.25L 3rd Ultimate Battle ( J Klaiber 126 ) 0.30L See full results | G A G Lara 57.2kg | 1 (7) |
| Los Alamitos Racecourse 09-Feb-25 274m R8 Race 8 $4,685 (of $9,500) Barrier 3, Winning Time: 01:55.760 away well, going away. 1st Defending Champ ( G A G Lara 126 ) 2nd Ebw Kye ( J Roman 126 ) 1.50L 3rd Peloton ( H R Lopez 126 ) 2.75L See full results | G A G Lara 57.2kg | 1 (7) |
| Los Alamitos Racecourse 25-Nov-24 366m R1 Race 1 (of $6,000) Barrier 4, Winning Time: 02:38.300 bumped sideways start, lugged inward, lacked path. 1st Devils Tower ( M Arriaga 126 ) 2nd Dash For Power ( J Klaiber 126 ) 0.75L 3rd Cartel Perry ( E Nicasio 126 ) 1.75L 6th Defending Champ ( G A G Lara 126 ) 3.60L See full results | G A G Lara 57.2kg 3.60L | 6 (8) |
| Los Alamitos Racecourse 06-Oct-24 370m R2 Race 2 $1,350 (of $6,000) Barrier 1, Winning Time: 01:22.160 broke in, surged, missed. 1st Lytes Out ( E Nicasio 126 ) 2nd Defending Champ ( G A G Lara 126 ) 0.05L 3rd Eagle Aye ( O M Peinado 126 ) 0.10L See full results | G A G Lara 57.2kg 0.05L | 2 (8) |
| Los Alamitos Racecourse 26-Aug-24 320m FIRM R4 Race 4 $750 (of $6,000) Barrier 2, Winning Time: 00:17.778 brushed start, steady effort, up 2nd. 1st Fear N Fridays ( A R Cervantes 126 ) 2nd Malynche ( J R Ayala 126 ) 0.10L 3rd Defending Champ ( G A G Lara 126 ) 0.85L See full results | G A G Lara 57.2kg 0.85L | 3 (8) |
| Los Alamitos Racecourse 04-Aug-24 320m R5 Race 5 $1,700 (of $8,500) Barrier 1 1st Braven ( R S Vallejo 126 ) 2nd Defending Champ ( G A G Lara 126 ) 0.50L 3rd Schemed ( R Lozano 126 ) 0.60L See full results | G A G Lara 57.2kg 0.50L | 2 (4) |
| Los Alamitos Racecourse 03-Aug-24 320m R5 Los Alamitos Racecourse race 5 $1,822 (of $8,500) Barrier 1 1st Braven ( 126 ) 2nd Defending Champ ( 126 ) 3rd Schemed ( 128 ) | 57.2kg | 2 (4) |
| Los Alamitos Racecourse 09-Jun-24 270m R7 Race 7 (of $9,000) Barrier 6, Winning Time: 01:18.820 wide path, outfinished. 1st Mister Twosday ( C Franco 126 ) 2nd Seperate Impact ( J P Gonzalez 126 ) 0.10L 3rd Safari ( A R Cervantes 126 ) 0.60L 5th Defending Champ ( G A G Lara 126 ) 0.75L See full results | G A G Lara 57.2kg 0.75L | 5 (7) |
| Los Alamitos Racecourse 12-May-24 270m R7 Race 7 (of $9,500) Barrier 2, Winning Time: 01:58.460 lugged out early, best stride late. 1st Robs Reason ( C Mendez 126 ) 2nd Val Caruso ( M Arriaga 126 ) 0.05L 3rd Rg Cartel ( I Lara 126 ) 1.55L 5th Defending Champ ( G A G Lara 126 ) 2.30L See full results | G A G Lara 57.2kg 2.30L | 5 (8) |