ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 1, MADAME VESTAL

FIRST RACE

MADAME VESTAL ran very well in her debut, and could be tough to beat with a race under her belt. First out, she hopped to be away a step slowly, rolled to midfield while saving ground, angled out, ran past the favorite in the stretch and finished second. Good, solid effort. She moves to a beneficial outside post and should be tough unless fast-working AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE is something special. The first-time starter posted four straight bullet works over the Los Al track; the Fed Biz filly seemingly has plenty of speed. As a general rule, maidens trained by Brian Koriner race their way into condition, but he won opening week with a 2yo first-time starter (Strictly Biz) by the same sire. This gal’s work tab is flashy. DIOSA is fast, and returning to what seems her preferred footing (dirt) after she misfired on turf. SHES ALL WOMAN will rally late in a race that could unfold at a quick pace.

SECOND RACE

VENICE makes her first start in six months against an ordinary field of maiden-20 fillies and mares. She finished second her only previous try at this level, more than six lengths clear of third. Drawn outside, working well, pressing style, the one to beat. FIFTYEIGHT SPECIAL drops from maiden special-weight to rock bottom, she has speed and ran well on this track in July at a higher level. The knock on that race is it had just five starters. JABBER NOW finished six lengths clear of third two weeks ago in her first try at this level. She broke from the rail in that race; same post this time. The inside post was 3-for-49 in sprints here the first two weeks of the meet. BEDFORD returns to a sprint after setting the pace and fading in a route.

THIRD RACE

SKY BABE lost her chance early in her debut. Bet from a morning line of 8-1 to start at 2.40-1 in that Cal-bred maiden-50, she broke slow, steadied, and that was that. She was able to rally to finish fourth in an effort probably better than the low figure. Both works since then were inordinately slow, but with a clean break second time out she should improve a ton. DADDY’S MISTRESS returns to the level of her respectable third two starts back. She has enough speed to be forwardly placed in a race with a murky pace scenario, and is drawn outside. The first two weeks of the meet, the outside post won 10 of the 49 sprints here (irrespective of field size). First-time starters YEP YEP YEP and HOT ROD GAL look interesting. YEP YEP YEP appears to have worked well enough to be competitive at this class level; HOT ROD GAL has slow works, but trainer Cliff Sise can get them ready to fire without fast drills.

FOURTH RACE

This five-furlong $8k claiming starter is a split of race 7. JAY MAKES US LAUGH was claimed for $6,250 just eight days ago from a decisive oddson victory at this short distance. If he runs two alike, he can wear them down again. The pace scenario works in his favor and he does win races: 6-for-15. KALUHLA will be positioned in front of the top choice; he has a shot to wire the field if he runs as well as two weeks ago. He virtually wired the field setting a fast pace. That was his third straight win dating back to April; he looks like the speed of the speed. However, a pesky pace rival is drawn directly to his outside. That is ALWAYS NEVER, who set a fast pace and weakened to fifth in his comeback. That race two weeks ago was his first start of the year, he can improve second start. Win or lose, he will keep KALUHLA honest on the front end.

FIFTH RACE

This maiden-30 for 2-year-old fillies is a split of

race 5. TWITTERATI is the one to beat. He actually ran well on this track last out, runner-up from an inside post. He gets a beneficial rider switch to apprentice Heriberto Figueroa, and moves from the rail to the outside post. In order to win, he must catch potential front-runner PLAN B, who ran a lot better in his second start than first out. He chased a fast pace, was still in the hunt to the furlong pole and then weakened to fourth. Good effort. From the inside post, he seemingly has no option except speed to the lead. Long gone? Maybe. LITTLE LILLY arrives from Canyon Breeze Training Center in Utah, where unrecognized races are conducted and published as “workouts” in past performances. ‘LILLY might have more experience than a typical first-time starter. SHARP IMAGE set the pace and tired both recent starts. Her speed is an asset.

SIXTH RACE

SEVEN SCENTS put it all together in his third career start, scoring a sharp two-turn maiden win that makes him a top contender in this restricted stakes race. ‘SCENTS pressed the pace in that mile race, won by a length, and returned eight days later to sharpen his speed for this sprint by working three furlongs in 36.40. The gray enters as the proven commodity; he can sprint. But he faces an interesting first-time starter with aboveaverage ability. GALILEAN is an Uncle Mo firsttime starter that topped the Barretts Spring Sale when he was purchased for $600k. He debuts with a series of fast works, and could be the speed of the field. Maidens have won this stake multiple times; GALILEAN would be the first debut runner to win. Based on fast works, he is a serious threat. MY MANDATE ran well in his debut, runner-up after pressing a strong pace. He adds blinkers for his second start, and should be forwardly placed. OUR SILVER OAK finished last as the favorite in a Del Mar stake, but he ran super in his winning debut on this racetrack in July and trained well since his second-start misfire.

SEVENTH RACE

This five-furlong $8k claiming starter is a split of race 4. RULE HE WILL overcame serious trouble last time to win a nighttime stakes race, his fourth straight win dating back to May 2017. RULE HE WILL is typically on or near the lead, but three weeks ago racing 870 yards, he was shuffled back into the turn, lost position, re-rallied, angled outside and won going away. Big win by an honest gelding who has won at a longer distance than this. Although this field is tougher than the field he just beat, he is good enough to handle the class raise. LOUDEN’S GRAY did not have the greatest of trips last time when he finished third by a length at this level. He did not have “trouble,” but he broke from the inside post, raced inside all the way, angled outside and back inside in the lane, and missed by a length. It has been difficult to win a sprint race this meet with an inside trip, which is the trip ‘GRAY had. He moves to an outside post (5 of 7) and should be running late. RED WINE AND

DINE might be ranked too low by this handicapper. ‘DINE wired similar two weeks ago; he could be the speed of this field.

EIGHTH RACE

Lots of speed in this $16k claiming starter at one mile, a scenario that benefits the off-pace style of JUST KIDDING. Runner-up three straight at Del Mar vs. $12.5k and $16k claiming company, he could tuck into a cozy trip behind the abundant speed. He does not win very often (3-for-38), but this race sets up for a horse with his stalking style.

AVANTI BELLO is a 9-for-36 pro whose highly rated pace-pressing win last out for a $16k tag could make him the favorite. nd He does not always run two alike, but his best effort would be tough to beat. Although he has speed, but does not necessarily require the lead. SENATOR ROBERT will rally from behind in this speed-filled race. MY FARMER is speed on the rail. He probably has to “go.” He could be dogged by front-runners BRADDOCK, KRISTI’S COPILOT and ABERDEEN ISLAND.

NINTH RACE

One mile is a long way for COPPER COWGIRL, who backed up late in both previous tries around two turns. On the other hand, her most recent start in a similar bottom-level maiden-claiming route was one of the best efforts of her 10-start career. Enough to make her the tepid choice. BAHAMA

MAMA broke slowly and never got going in her debut last month. She drops from maiden-40, goes sprint to route, and gets in light with a fivepound apprentice rider. Improvement is likely. MIDNIGHT CROSSING returns to the maiden-20 class level at which she finished a creditable third in her debut three back. She was overmatched both recent starts vs. Cal-bred MSW company. CHAPIS stretches out with two sprints under her belt.

4961 Katella Avenue, Los Alamitos, CA 90720 (714) 820-2800 Main track: One mile, oval. Distance from last turn to finish line: 1,380 feet.

TAKEOUT INFORMATION ■ Win, place, and show: 16.77% ■ Exacta, Quinella: 24.02% ■ Trifecta, Superfecta, Super Hi-5, Pick 3, Pick 4, Late Pick 5, Pick 6: 25.02% ■ Early Pick 5: 14% ■ Daily Double: 20%

NOTE: A horse which wins a non-winners of $3,000 other than maiden or claiming, or two races, for Calbreds, shall remain eligible for that comparable open allowance race, provided that horse did not win a race other than claiming following that Cal-Bred win. Once a horse has won the two first condition allowance races (Cal-Bred and open), then the Cal Bred win will be disregarded in future allowance races for eligibility purposes only.