Full Field for the Charger Bar Handicap at Los Alamitos

Defending champion, Quirky, leads the field in Sunday's Charger Bar Handicap at Los Alamitos.

The $100,000 Charger Bar Handicap (G1) headlines the Sunday night card at Los Alamitos. Ed Allred's Quirky, will attempt to defend her title as the 7-5 favorite. The multiple stakes winner will carry the high weight of 129 pounds for the 400 yard feature for older mares.

Quirky returns to action following her sixth-place finish to probable AQHA world champion Heza Dasha Fire in the $600,000 Champion of Champions on December 12. Jockey Eulices Gomez will pilot the 5-year-old mare from post position eight.

Her rivals include Apolitical Zoom, winner of the Damas Handicap for trainer Bret Vickery. Cesar DeAlba rides the Idaho-bred 4-year-old filly. Breaking just inside of Apolitical Zoom is Sass Me Blue, who was a game second in the Southern California Derby.

Top Los Alamitos conditioner Paul Jones, who has won the Charger Bar a record five times, will saddle two entrants. Solid Connection, has won five career starts and finished third to Quirky in the $100,000 Mildred Vessels on September 27. She will be ridden by Cruz Mendez, who finished 2015 as the leading Quarter Horse rider by earnings in North America. Jones' will try to spring the upset with his other filly, Texas-bred Tallulah Moon, who is 20-1 on the morning line.

Post time for the Sunday night card at Los Alamitos is 5:10 pm (Pacific) with the Charger Bar set as the eighth race of the evening.