Sprint is home game for Fact of Life

CYPRESS, Calif. – Fact of Life is at home at Los Alamitos.

The filly beat maidens at Los Alamitos last September and is based at the track with what is largely trainer Bob Baffert’s second division.

Unraced since finishing eighth in the Grade 1 Starlet Stakes here last December, Fact of Life will make her first start of the year Thursday at Los Alamitos in an optional claimer at six furlongs, with Baffert hoping that her familiarity with the surroundings will work in her favor.

“She’s been training well,” Baffert said on Sunday from his base at Santa Anita. “I thought I’d give her a race there.”

Fact of Life is part of a field of seven in the optional claimer and figures to be a short-priced favorite. The race is the seventh on an eight-race program that includes a pick-six carryover of $47,450. The pool of new money could surpass $200,000. The pick six covers races 3-8.

Three other runners in the optional claimer have stakes experience – Be a Lady, Cioppino Pasadino, and Holy Mosey.

Last September, Holy Mosey was last of seven as a longshot in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante. The optional claimer will be Holy Mosey’s first start since December at Turf Paradise.

KEY CONTENDERS

Fact of Life, by The Factor Last 3 Beyers: 64-82-69

◗ Fact of Life, bought for $260,000 as a yearling in 2015, has started four times for Fog City Stable and Tom Van Meter II. She was third in a maiden race at Del Mar last August in her debut and beat maidens here in her second start.

◗ Fact of Life was second to Abel Tasman in an allowance race at Del Mar before the loss in the Starlet. Fact of Life had one workout after the Starlet before she was rested for the winter.

“She wasn’t doing well, so we stopped on her,” Baffert said.

◗ Abel Tasman won the Starlet when trained by Simon Callaghan and later joined Baffert’s stable. For Baffert, Abel Tasman has won her last two starts, both in Grade 1 races – the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on May 5 and the Acorn Stakes at Belmont Park on June 10.

◗ Fact of Life has worked quickly at Los Alamitos in recent weeks, including six furlongs in 1:11.40 on June 24.

Reiki Baby, by Curlin Last Beyer: 82

◗ Reiki Baby won her debut in a maiden special weight race at seven furlongs at Santa Anita on June 11. Trained by Adam Kitchingman, Reiki Baby closed from sixth in a field of eight to win by a nose.

Cioppino Pasadino, by Time to Get Even Last 3 Beyers: 73-72-57

◗ Cioppino Pasadino has won her last two starts, both at six furlongs at Santa Anita – an allowance race for Californiabreds on May 21 and an optional claimer/starter allowance on June 11 in which she was claimed for $32,000 by trainer Chuck Treece.

◗ Cioppino Pasadino has won 5 of 16 starts and is by far the most experienced filly in the field.