Star of Spielberg's 'War Horse' Discovered in Los Alamitos

For a couple of small, laid-back cities, Seal Beach and Los Alamitos lay claim to quite a few celebrity residents. From stars such as Cameron Diaz and Sandra Bullock, rockers from Pearl Jam and Black Sabbath to high school alum such as "Glee" star Mattew Morrison and "Sex and the City" heartthrob Jason Lewis, we’ve had our share of star-studded neighbors.

And speaking of studs, that’s one way to describe the latest A-lister to come out of Los Alamitos. His name is Finder’s Key, and you can find him on the big screen staring in Steven Spielberg’s newest film “War Horse.”

Finder’s Key wasn’t always a stud. He started out as a bit of a dud as a racehorse at the Los Alamitos Race Course. So when Hollywood came casting, Finder’s Key’s owner Arthur “Curly” Ortiz was quick to sell.

As he told South Carolina’s The Pilot, Finder’s Key just had no future in racing.

“He was just impossible to train,” Ortiz told the newspaper. “He would rear, and nobody wanted to get on him. He wouldn’t go to the track without a pony.”

So maybe Finder’s Key is part diva. It’s warranted. His breakout role was the title character in the 2003 film “Seabiscuit.” In “War Horse” he also plays the title character ‘Joey,’ and nails dramatic scenes such as being trapped in barbed wire.

For the complete story on Finder’s Key, check out The Pilot article here.