Home advantage lies with Mr Vargas

CYPRESS, Calif. – Mr Vargas is at home at Los Alamitos.

A 4-year-old gelding, Mr Vargas won his only start here – a maiden race last September – and is trained here by Brian Koriner. With those factors seemingly in his favor, Mr Vargas will start in an allowance race with a $40,000 claiming option at Los Alamitos on Sunday.

Mr Vargas is part of a field of 10 in the race at 5 1/2 furlongs.

“He’s ready to roll,” Koriner said.

KEY CONTENDERS

Mr Vargas, by Midshipman Last 3 Beyers: 84-85-94

◗ Mr Vargas achieved a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 94 with a four-length win in a maiden race here last September. He later finished second and third in turf sprints at Santa Anita and Del Mar.

◗ Owned by Samantha Siegel, Mr Vargas was turned out following a start at Del Mar last November because of a bone chip in a knee, Koriner said.

◗ For his return to racing on Sunday, Mr Vargas has displayed quick workouts, including three furlongs in 35 seconds last Monday.

◗ Koriner said he prefers to start Mr Vargas at Los Alamitos rather than wait for a similar race at the Del Mar summer meeting, which begins on July 18.

“He likes this place and trains here,” Koriner said. “We might as well run him here. It would be much tougher there. He should be good.”

Ride to the Wire, by Archarcharch Last 3 Beyers: 84-61-58

◗ Ride to the Wire is the most lightly raced horse in the field with three starts. He was third in an optional claimer at seven furlongs on June 9 at Santa Anita at 26-1 in his second start of the year and first race in nearly 60 days.

“I expect him to run well,” trainer Ben Cecil said. “He doesn’t seem to get much respect yet. I thought he ran well the other day. I missed a bit of time between the first start and the second. He had some foot issues. I think in the third start off the layoff hopefully he can run well.

“I’m trying to teach him to relax a bit. I don’t think he’ll be on the lead.”

McKale, by Congrats Last 3 Beyers: 84-85-83

◗ Trained by Bob Baffert, McKale had a flashy debut with a win at Santa Anita in March, but has been beaten in his last three races, including a fourth in the Grade 3 Laz Barrera Stakes for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs at Santa Anita on May 12.

◗ More recently, McKale was fourth as the favorite in the same race as Ride to the Wire on June 9, setting the pace from an inside post position before fading.

◗ McKale and Ride to the Wire are the only 3-year-olds in Sunday’s field.

Boy Howdy, by Southern Image Last 3 Beyers; 88-89-71

◗ Boy Howdy will have his first start for trainer David Jacobson on Sunday following a recent private purchase. Previously trained by Enebish Ganbat, Boy Howdy is entered to be claimed for $40,000 and has recent experience at that level, with thirdand second-place finishes in $40,000 claimers at Santa Anita in April and on June 22.