ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 3, INSTAGRAND FIRST RACE

FENDER BENDER and INSUBORDINATION have similar front-running styles, which could be problematic. The choice is FENDER BENDER, whose fifth in a six-horse field last out was actually not bad. He was sandwiched in a pace duel, stuck in there to the stretch, and then faded. He drops from $25k claiming N2L down to $12.5k claiming N2L. INSUBORDINATION could go favored; he is a must-use dropping from Cal-bred allowance to low claiming. The gelding has been setting or pressing the pace against tougher, he is drawn outside his pace rival and could be gone if he can put away the top choice. A pace duel would be the perfect set-up for REVEREND AL, who moves to an outside post after an “off slow” runner-up finish last out. His best efforts are when he rallies from off the pace, which is the likely scenario here.

SECOND RACE

This restricted $8k claiming route might be a a good spot to take a shot at a price with SHACKALOV, who showed signs of returning to form last out with a creditable fourth in a similar lowlevel sprint. The gelding had compromising trips three previous starts; his maiden-claiming win and runner-up way back in February and March are fast enough to upset this gang. OLD SCHOOL IKE defeated the top choice in February, and might simply be a better horse. ‘IKE subsequently misfired in a tougher race; this is his first start in more than three months. His January-February form might be enough. JOURNEY TO RUN goes first off the claim by high-percent f.o.c. trainer Genaro Vallejo. He also returns to dirt for the first time since summer-fall 2016, when two starts on dirt produced a runner-up finish and a maiden win. IBON might be ranked too low by this handicapper. His recent speed figures on turf are fast enough for this dirt field.

THIRD RACE

The $1.2 million juvenile colt INSTAGRAND worked 10-flat at the Florida sale from which he was purchased, and continued to work fast in Califor- nia for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. A 59.20-second gate work over the Los Alamitos racetrack one week ago was the fastest of the day; the son of Into Mischief looks primed to fire first time out as the most probable winner on the card. First-time starter PULLFROMTHECLOUD has been prepping at San Luis Rey. His first-crop sire Shakin It Up has two winners already from his first four starters. DARK PRINCE, by popular first-crop stallion Cairo Prince, worked a bullet half-mile from the gate at Santa Anita last week. ‘PRINCE is the first 2yo starter of the season trained by Bob Baffert. NO TREBLE might be ranked too low. He debuts with fast works. PROSPECTIVE appears to have trained okay. This is an interesting maiden race, even with an apparent standout favorite.

FOURTH RACE

Lots to like about BRADDOCK in this claiming race, his initial start of the year. First, he returns from a layoff in a claiming race while employing the “no-claim waiver.” That signals optimism by his connections. Secondly, three bullet works over the track indicate he is fond of the Los Al surface. His mid-70s Beyer Figures are tops in the field, he has won from the rail, he gets in light with a seven-pound apprentice rider, and trainer Jerry Hollendorfer has been on a roll. Is it a onehorse race? Maybe not, because LUCKY STAXX won two straight rallying from just off the pace. In both races, the runner-up finished far clear of third. ‘STAXX was claimed for $12.5k from his most recent win by high-percent f.o.c. trainer John Martin. Look for him late. DON’T STALK ME was claimed for $25k from a last-place finish. He returns as a first-time gelding, entered for half the claim price. The drop makes sense, considering his last-out finish. BRICKHOUSE shows up for the first time in the claiming ranks.

FIFTH RACE

In a perplexing maiden-50 for Cal-bred 2yo fillies, the lukewarm selection is DADDY’S MISTRESS. She was bet to 8-1 in her Calbred MSW with just ordinary workouts, and merely ran around the track. Maybe the prep served its purpose; perhaps she can improve second time out while dropping slightly in class. A sibling to four winners, she is

the only runner so far this year by first-crop stallion Daddy Nose Best. LAKERZWIN, a sibling to three winners, was sired by first-crop sire Lakerville. Slow works are standard from this stable.

DISCO TALE, owned by the same stable as the top choice, makes her debut with a bunch of modest works. TIME FOR SUZZIE drops into a maidenclaiming race, third time out. From a handicapping perspective, this race is very difficult.

SIXTH RACE

AUTUMN TWILIGHT finished third last out in a similar $6,250 claiming sprint at Santa Anita. That makes her the one to beat in her return to Los Al, where she scored a decisive starter allowance win last summer. This is the third start of her comeback; she can mow them down late. Maybe. The challenge is the murky pace scenario. TUSCANY BEAUTY has a tactical advantage over the top choice, due to the fact she has more early speed. Her three recent starts were okay, she could get a cozy trip positioned right behind the speed. HOLIDAYINCAMBODIA should get a forwardly placed trip.

SEVENTH RACE

This allowance/optional claiming sprint for California-bred fillies and mares is a good spot to take a shot with PRINCESS KENDRA, who shortens to her preferred sprint trip while dropping from open company to face state-breds. Her recent figures around one turn are decent, she is a two-time winner at Los Al with a history of outrunnining her odds. The last time she raced at this level, on this track in December, she popped at $19.60. Off the pace and into the winner’s circle, at a price.

BOLD AT NIGHT returns from Arizona, where she had a successful winter-spring campaign with two wins. She proved last fall she likes this racetrack; runner-up twice including a race at this level.

LUCKY STUDENT is all speed, and a threat to steal it. However, she faces a formidable pace rival in ALLIE’S LOVE. The latter gave it a shot on turf last time, but finished last. Back on dirt, she is a frontend threat. ALL OF A SUDDEN might be ranked too low by this handicapper. She will rally late.

EIGHTH RACE

SPEND IT, “winner” of a similar maiden-20 route on this track in December only to be disqualified for interference, is rounding back into form based on his third-place sprint finish last out. This is career start No. 16, and he faces good droppers including MSW-to-MCL AURORA D’ORO. The latter set the pace briefly last time in a strong race that produced two next-out winners (stakes winner Draft Pick, maiden winner Faversham). Easier spot here for AURORA D’ORO, whose trainer Doug O’Neill also entered ALFAREED. The latter drops from maiden-50 and goes long for the first time. He is likely to produce speed. INDIAN GULCH may have been just prepping in his tenth-place debut vs. tougher.