La Force seeks winning form

CYPRESS, Calif. – La Force has been losing to the right kind of fillies of late, a trend she can reverse in her 15th career start in Sunday’s eighth race at Los Alamitos.

La Force was second to Sandy’s Surprise in a firstlevel allowance race with a $40,000 claiming option here in September. Sandy’s Surprise is expected to be nominated to the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita.

On Oct. 21, La Force was second to Pacific Wind in a similar race at Santa Anita. Pacific Wind was fifth in the Grade 2 Bayakoa Stakes on Dec. 3 at Los Alamitos.

Trained by Paddy Gallagher, La Force is winless in seven starts this year, but is a leading candidate to win Sunday’s optional claimer, which is run at a mile.

The race drew a field of nine, including Ms Wakaya, who won an allowance race for California-breds on turf Nov. 10 at Del Mar, and Resky Business, a close fourth in an optional claimer at a mile on turf Nov. 19 at Del Mar.

KEY CONTENDERS

La Force, by Power Last 3 Beyers: 90-90-74

◗ La Force ran on turf in her first 12 starts, a span that included a third in the 2016 Surfer Girl Stakes at Santa Anita and losses in six other stakes. The recent second-place finishes are her only races on dirt.

◗ Owned by Ward and Robert Williford and Chuck Winner, La Force led with a furlong remaining in the Oct. 21 race and was beaten 1 3/4 lengths by Pacific Wind.

◗ In Sunday’s race, La Force drew the rail. Regular rider Santiago Gonzalez has the mount on a 3-year-old filly who tends to run from just off the pace.

Ms Wakaya, by Flower Alley Last 3 Beyers: 78-55-72

◗ Ms Wakaya ended a sixrace losing streak with a smart win at a mile on turf Nov. 10 at Del Mar. The filly closed from fourth to win by 1 1/4 lengths, her second career victory.

◗ Trained by Steve Miyadi, Ms Wakaya has fine dirt form. The late-running Ms Wakaya won a maiden for California-breds at six furlongs on dirt at Santa Anita in September 2016 and was later second in the Golden State Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita in November 2016.

Resky Business, by Eskendereya Last 3 Beyers: 79-65-80

◗ Resky Business won consecutive starts in starter allowances with $32,000 and $50,000 claiming options on dirt as a 2-year-old in fall 2016.

◗ She is winless in four starts this year, all on turf, but was beaten only 1 1/2 lengths in an optional claimer at a mile Nov. 19 at Del Mar.