LOS ALAMITOS RACE COURSE LOS ALAMITOS RACE COURSE

BEST BET: RACE 2, GOLDEN ATLANTIC

FIRST RACE

Despite finishing fifth last out in a six-horse field, SOUTHERN TREASURE gets the call to spring a mild upset in this $12.5k claiming starter allowance. She did not have a good trip last out. She was away slowly from the rail and shuffled, gunned inside to chase, and sputtered. It was a toss-out race from the otherwise consistent filly who has won 8 of 18. She was claimed last time, has more speed than she showed, and with a clean break drawing the rail again she can win with a forwardly placed trip. WHERE’S THE D finished in front of the top choice last time, and from the outside post looms a legit threat from off the pace. BOLD AT NIGHT wheels back eight days after a runner-up finish ibn a Cal-bred N1X; she has the highest last-out figure (74 Beyer). BE A LADY might be ranked too low. A potential favorite, she finished in front of the top pair last out. New stable however, and unplaced three starts at Los Al.

SECOND RACE

GOLDEN ATLANTIC drops into an extraordinarily weak $8k claiming N2L race that he is likely to win at low odds. He faced much better this summer, ran okay, and drops to the lowest level of his career. The high-figure starter will be forwardly placed. Other than the favorite, this field is soft. T’S PLACE aired last out against Quarter Horses racing 870 yards; he should keep the top choice company at least part way. CHIEF TIGER drops in class after finishing next to last opening day of the fall meet.

THIRD RACE

DRESSED IN PRADA finished second her only start in May. That was maiden-30 from which the winner returned to finish second against winners; the third-place finisher returned to win a maiden-20. ‘PRADA changed trainers since, has a solid recent workout on this track, drops to the bottom and might be a standout. FELLINA is a 10-start maiden with an okay third over this track a week ago. She will be chugging along late. LUCKY SNOW BELLE makes her career debut at rock bottom. She capped her work pattern with a three-furlong gate move Wednesday in 35.60 seconds. She could show speed. ANGEL IN FLIGHT was compromised by slow takeoffs in both starts. Upset candidate, if she leaves the gate with the rest of the field.

FOURTH RACE

TISDALE dominated an $8k claiming field last out by more than four lengths, an effort that would be tough to beat moving up to $12.5k claiming. The pace scenario of this route came up soft, which benefits TISDALE. Although he is not a frontrunner, he could make the lead by default while seeking his third straight. ROMAN TIZZY was no match for the top choice Aug. 5, but ‘TIZZY came back with a solid runner-up finish in which he pressed a fast pace and finished more than two lengths clear of third. He should be forwardly placed in a race likely to unfold at a tepid pace. Furthermore, ‘TIZZY has something the top choice lacks. That is, established form over this racetrack. He won twice here in 2014. KING BUDRICK returns from Northern California, second start back from a layoff, for hot trainer. Jeff Bonde started the fall meet 3-for-4.

FIFTH RACE

KNOW IT ALL HOUSEWIFE ran thebes trace of her five-start career last out, third in a similar maiden20 while setting an honest pace. She shortens to five furlongs, will be mixing it up early, and can win if she survives the pace battle and runs as well as last time. SAPODILLA returns from a layoff of more than three months, with speed to keep things honest up front. She finished second four of her last five before she went to the sidelines. Slow comeback works are standard from this stable. ACCLAIMED CAT flashed brief speed and faded in her debut. She drops to the bottom for her second start, adds blinkers and is likely to improve a ton with a race under her belt. LUCKIEST also has never raced this low, while a pace meltdown would benefit PATIENCE LADY.

SIXTH RACE

Runner-up in a similar restricted $6,250 claiming sprint last weekend, CHEESE is the tepid choice. Her form is consistent, she finished in the money four starts including her last three at this track. But this race looks wide open, and ALOHA KE AKUA has a shot based on the class drop from open $8k to lower claiming, non-winners this year. She could be the one to catch. LIRICA HEAT goes route to sprint and will pick them up late. She is 2 for 43; both wins were turf routes. This is a dirt sprint. OLEANDER POLAR BEAR has enough speed to make it interesting at a price.

SEVENTH RACE

LOB CITY looks like a timely claim. She finished third last out for a $25k tag, and now drops into a $12.5k claiming starter as the “best horse” in the field. Runner-up in a similar starter allowance on this track in July, she maintained her sharp form all summer and should get a great trip positioned second or third behind the speed. SHESWILDNFREE, 3-for-5 this year and a winner two straight, makes her first start since a July comeback win. She runs well with time between starts, runs well over this track, and will pour it on late. TRINITYS TURN has run races that put her in the hunt; OCTOFY is a stretch-out sprinter likely to set the pace. She actually won a route race in January 2016, and will take this modest field as far as she can. SWISSARELLA also has speed.

EIGHTH RACE

LOVE MY BUD loves the Los Alamitos track; both his wins were at this oval. His two comeback races look modest, but his form might actually be better than it appears and sets him for a win in this N1X sprint. He chased a sizzling pace and finished fourth in his July comeback; he virtually split the field last out in a turf route. Now he shortens to a sprint, returns to dirt, meets a field with speed to run at, and is the choice to rally for the win. ROCKIN RUDY pressed fast pace and finished a creditable fourth last out in a N1X that was tougher than this field. Blinkers on, fast work last week on this track, he will be dueling up front. MR. OPPORTUNIST regressed last out at Del Mar, but his runner-up finish two starts back on this track puts him squarely in the hunt. HITTERS PARK adds speed as he returns to dirt. His best races have been on the main.

NINTH RACE

HES KNOT UNUSUAL beat only two rivals in his debut, but the race was actually okay and sets him for a win second-start win. The pace was fast, he was forwardly placed to deep stretch before he tired. He worked well since, switches to dirt for his second start, and is likely to improve with a race under his belt. GOSOFAR is an eight-start maiden with four in-the-money finishes. He probably needed his last, a fourth-place comeback. BOB’S BAD BOY debuts with fast works; HARDCARE TROUBADOUR set the pace in the same race the top choice exits. He might be the speed of the speed. Come and catch him.