LOS ALAMITOS RACE COURSE

that race under his belt and today’s big drop he could be a danger. RALIS is, like PLUM CANDY, a guy with ample back-class having knocked heads with graded stakes types. He was gone 16 months before a dull run for $35K on turf at SA May 26. He drops a bunch more but it’s nice to see there’s no layoff since and returning to dirt may help as his only two wins have come on dirt. SIXTH RACE

A LITTLE UNRULY debuts with plenty of good works for Baffert, who of course is well known for having his runners cranked and ready to go first time out. Runners by G1-winning sire Violence often come out running. JADE DEE gives Baffert two strong looks at this as the $270K daughter of Congrats boasts a full work tab with plenty of bullets in tow. SO I SANG showed talent last spring/summer at SA and DMR. She hasn’t been seen in nine months but it’s nice to see no drop for her return and she’s been working in strong fashion for this. Hollendorfer is off to a strong start this meet, too.

SEVENTH RACE

STARRING JOHN WAIN brings a full, solid work tab into his debut for Hollendorfer, who already unleashed a debut winner here last weekend ($1.2 million Instagrand). The colt appears to have a foundation and his lone sib, Son of a Minister, is a 2-time winner for $31K. OLIVER flashed talent in his debut at SA June 15 when rallying well for 3rd despite his jock losing his whip. That gives him an experience edge over many of these and he’s worked well since. Four of his five sibs are winners including full-bro Quantum Force (five wins, $66K). NICE HAIRCUT chased the pace routing on turf at SA June 24 before fading to 6th. He’s back to dirt and sprinting and his decent 2nd in an SA dirt sprint June 3 shows he handles this game. He gets blinkers, too. His two sibs to race, both full-sibs, are Who Is Lido (two wins, $17K) and Eddie the King (four wins, $54K).

EIGHTH RACE

A fun race as you have a couple veterans who have done some of their best work here. MAGIC MARK comes off a sharp 2nd at SA May 24, his first start in over 10 months. He ran 2nd in this last year and may be set for his best with that May 24 race under his belt. SOI PHET thinks he owns this place having won four of eight. He may be a 10yo now but he showed in a turf stakes at SA May 20 there’s still plenty of as in the tank as he rallied to post a 47-1 upset. The last time he ran here, last September, he won a stakes. B SQUARED finished just a head behind SOI PHET in that aforementioned turf stakes at SA May 20 (the Crystal Water) and was then a good rallying 4th in a stakes on the hillside course there June 17 so he comes here sharp. He ran 3rd in the G3 Los Alamitos Derby here a year ago, his only prior start here. The last time he ran on dirt he won a sprint stakes at SA April 14.

NINTH RACE

CATFISH HUNTER laughed at maidens at DMR Nov. 23 but wasn’t seen for another six months. The good news, though, is he’s come back smokin’ as he blasted winners at SA May 19 then just missed by a nose there June 10. He’s worked well twice since. FIRE TO THE WIRE likewise comes here sharp. He ran 2nd at SA May 24, a run which looks even better when you note the horse he easily beat back into 3rd (Shades of Victory) came right back to win. He has the speed and versatility to give his rider options. NOVA looked good blasting $20K claimers by over five lengths at SA June 17 and it’s encouraging they bring him back with no tag attached.