ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 3, DONJI

FIRST RACE

Second-time starter MUGARITZ gets the call in this modest maiden-30 route for 2yos. He was well-bet in his debut, but went one-paced throughout and finished sixth. He ran as if he will prefer two turns. Tough to win a route after just one sprint prep, but not much here to beat. FRANKIE MACHINE finished an okay fifth in his debut two months ago, a sprint that produced a pair of next-out winners. Like the top choice, ‘MACHINE also ran like he wants a longer distance. BUILDER broke slowly and trailed first out, but that was a maiden-50 against better than he meets here. Improvement likely second time out.

SECOND RACE

First-time starter MISS KITAEN debuts with workouts that suggest she is ready to fire. Although first-crop sire Rattlesnake Bridge has only one debut winner (through Sunday), this filly might be the exception. She is a sibling to three winners, including a debut winner. Trainer Peter Eurton has won with 3 of his last 11 maiden-claiming firsters. KLEPTOCRACY has a modest workout pattern for her debut, but meets modest foes. Although her stable is not known for winning often first out, this field came up shallower than most 2yo maidenclaiming races. HALO GIRL faced special-weights with zero success her first three starts. Big drop into the maiden-claiming ranks.

THIRD RACE

Claimed one month ago from a sharp runner-up finish in a fast-pace $32k claiming route, DONJI drops to a $16k claiming starter allowance as the most probable winner on the card. He did everything but win last time. He dueled in a three-way pace battle, shook off his foes, fought to deep stretch, got swallowed and finished second. The one-three finishers rallied from last and next to last. Big effort by DONJI, who looks tough to beat first off the claim by Leonard Powell. PREACHER ROE also enters in solid form. He missed by less than two lengths last time in a fast-pace turf race. He might prefer the main track, and he definitely prefers Los Alamitos. He has two wins and one second from four starts here. SENSE OF GLORY trounced restricted $16k claiming company here two weeks ago, and jumps up multiple levels. Early this year, he was plenty good enough to win a race at this level. Sharp horse moving back up the ladder. TRIBAL ROAR stretches from sprints as a potential pacesetter.

FOURTH RACE

MISS PRETTY drops to maiden-30 after setting the pace and tiring last out in a maiden-50 for Cal-breds. Unless one of the first-time starters has speed, MISS PRETTY should make the lead again. Facing easier, she could be gone. First-time starters MILLIE JOEL and NOVAFACTUM debut for top stables, with decent enough workouts. MILLIE JOEL, by good debut sire Creative Cause, is the first foal from an allowance-caliber dam that was not particularly quick. But her workouts suggest she inherited speed form her sire. NOVAFACTUM has a couple recent half-mile gate works; she was sired by the Storm Cat stallion Factum; her female family is modest. ANGELINA’S HEAVEN has some good works; WE WILL RE JOYCE always gets bet, but her improvement seems to have stalled.

FIFTH RACE

Attention, Los Angeles Dodgers fans. KERSHAW makes his career debut with a solid workout pattern and win-early breeding. His sire Run Away and Hide gets just 11 percent debut winners, but his dam won her career debut at Pleasanton in 2012. Looks like trainer Peter Miller has this guy cranked for a top effort first out. CLEVER CAUSE also has trained fast; all his works have been over the Los Alamitos racetrack including a handful of bullet drills that indicate he is ready to roll. Sired by Creative Cause (16 percent debut winners), CLEVER CAUSE is a sibling to Yodelsong and the speedy W. Giles. COLONEL CASH debuts with workouts that suggest he is well-meant first out, while ARNO’S MANE MAN also has sharp works including his last three from the gate. Interesting maiden race for 2yos.

SIXTH RACE

WILLING TO TRAVEL was only prepping in his comeback three weeks ago when he sprinted seven

furlongs in a claiming race, while entered “not to be claimed.” He split the field, and now stretches to his preferred distance (route) and drops to $8k claiming nonwinners this year. The “best horse” in the race, he should improve second start back.

BROADWAY NIKA pressed the pace while wide, and folded last out. The 12-win veteran drops from open $10k claiming to restricted $8k, gets in light and will be pressing the pace. PAPA ROYALE got a soft trip and faltered last out. His recent form is only okay. ANTINANCO was once better than these.

SEVENTH RACE

ST. RENO was compromised by a slow start and wide rally opening week, third in a $8k claiming starter allowance. He drops to “regular” $8k claiming, has more speed than he showed last time, shortens to five and a half, and gets the call in a puzzling sprint. PRINCE CHARMANT wheels back six days after being claimed for $6,250 from a fourth-place finish. He has run faster than he ran last week, improvement possible. UPPER MESA FALLS has speed and meets an easier bunch than two weeks ago. BADASMYWIFELETSMEB seeks his second win of the meet. Sharp horse moving up in class.

EIGHTH RACE

The last-out runner-up performance by TEAM ASTROLOGY was not exactly flattered when third place Knowitallhousewife returned Sunday to finish second at odds-on, but that was not the fault of ‘ASTROLOGY. Her second start was an improvement over her debut; she enters with the top figures in the field. RULED BY GIRLS slides to the rock bottom maiden-20 level for the first time. The inside post does her no favors whatsoever, but her rivals are easier than she faced her first three starts. GYPSY TREASURE missed by a head opening week; SPENDER was a well-bet disappointment first time out but eligible to improve.