LOS ALAMITOS RACE COURSE

BEST BET: RACE 4, AMATARA

FIRST RACE

SLUFFYS GIZMO MARSANNE MHF WMA PLATINUM

SECOND RACE

The pick five starts this race. Based on a respectable third-place comeback, FLOYD MONEYMAKER is the one to beat in this maiden-30 sprint. He finished only a half-length behind next-out maiden-breaker Temple Knights; winner Saddle Bar returned to finish second against winners. Really does not look like much here for ‘MONEYMAKER to beat. First-time starter COAST OF ROAN debuts with slow works, but qualifies on the “new face in a shallow race” angle. His trainer springs an occasional upset with longshot maiden-claiming firsters. VERMEER will vie for favoritism. His third-place finish on this racetrack two months ago at this class level and 5.5-furlong distance makes him a logical threat despite the inside post.

THIRD RACE

The early pick four starts this race. SUNSET SEVEN ran well on this track in June, runner-up against better company while finishing more than three lengths clear of third. His summer training pattern was interrupted briefly in August, his recent works suggest he can pick up where he left off. SEAU would have been a contender Aug. 25 in the Humboldt County Marathon Handicap, but the Ferndale starter sprung the gate before SEAU was loaded. Obviously, he was a “scratch.” SEAU, a once well-regarded sibling to Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver, has maintained solid form all season while earning speed figures fast enough for this level. TOPGALLANT rarely wins (1 for 28), but often finishes close. He has two seconds and eight thirds, and ran well both previous starts at Los Alamitos.

FOURTH RACE

AMATARA should be tough to beat in this maiden sprint for fillies and mares. She finished a solid second on this track in July, her most recent runner-up finish at Del Mar was in a highly rated race. She figures to be long gone with a frontrunning or pace-pressing trip. Comebacker PERSEPOLIS returns from a seven-month layoff with a series of solid workouts. She showed speed in a downhill turf sprint in February, and is quick enough to keep the top choice in her sights. This is the two-start maiden’s first start on dirt, her works suggest surface is not an issue. First-time starter FREE BELIEF debuts with a series of sharp workouts over the Los Al surface for a trainerjockey combo with three wins and a second from four runners this meet. MISS TOKYO, stablemate of the top choice, finished an okay fifth in her debut. She should improve second time out.

FIFTH RACE

Del Mar debut winners QUALITY RESPONSE and PAID INFORMANT enter this stakes for juvenile fillies as the obvious choices. QUALITY RESPONSE won her special-weight debut by more than seven lengths after pressing a strong pace; the manner in which she widened through the lane suggests she benefits from the extra furlong of this 6.5-furlong race. PAID INFORMANT also scored a convincing debut win, albeit in a $150k maiden-claiming sprint. ‘INFORMANT pressed slower fractions than the top choice, finished faster, and won by more than three. She also should appreciate the additional furlong, although she is potentially compromised by the inside post. MEAN SOPHIA makes her first start since May. She won her April debut at Keeneland by more than 10 lengths, so she obviously runs well fresh.

SIXTH RACE

GINGHAM ran exceptionally well in her debut, runner-up at this mile trip while finishing more than three clear of third. Solid runner-up finish considering she raced inside most of the way over a Del Mar surface that seemed to favor the outside lanes. With a race under her belt, she should be tough to beat at low odds. DIPPING IN finished an okay fourth in her career debut, a turf sprint. She

finished like a filly that will appreciate the extra distance of this mile race. SEAHAWK LISA also ran okay first time out, finishing fourth in a race won by the race-5 stakes contender Paid Informant. SEAHAWK LISA is bred to relish two turns.

SEVENTH RACE

A better-than-looked third by BROKE AWAY, under disadvantageous conditions, stamps him the one to beat in this $25k claiming route for non-winners of two. He was above his conditions in that nonwinners of three race that was dominated by the two front-runners. BROKE AWAY GREY rallied from last to third. Good effort against the “race shape.” ‘GREY drops to N2L, and with pace to run at can win the first mile-and-a-sixteenth race of the fall meet. FAST AS CASS will be positioned in front of the top choice while dropping from maiden-50 starter. He benefits from his post draw, outside his two apparent pace rivals. STREET TO INDY ran like he needed the start last out, fifth in a claiming sprint at Del Mar. His two starts at Los Al produced one win, one second. Expect improvement. I CAN DO THIS might be ranked too low by this handicapper, but his two starts at Del Mar suggests he is going off form. He could wake up on the class drop/surface switch.

EIGHTH RACE

The comeback gelding SARATOGA MORNING returns from a layoff while entered with the no-claim waiver, which typically signals optimism. He ran well on this track last fall, his figures rank among highest in the field, the outside post works in his favor. He can sit, wait and rally late for the win. After a win and a second in five-horse fields in Northern California, OLDER BROTHER returns to Los Al. If his recent speed figures are believable (turf last out, off-turf two back), he could be tough on the front end. ACCORDING TO BUDDY will try to become the first two-time winner of this race meet. He won a four-runner race last out, but now is buried on the rail in a seven-horse field. Sharp gelding a contender nonetheless.

NINTH RACE

COLISEUM, former Derby prospect, returns from an extended layoff with a series of sharp works over the Los Al racetrack. The lightly raced 3-yearold won his career debut by more than six lengths, so the seven-month layoff is not a concern. The challenge is the starting gate. He was compromised by slow takeoffs both races in winter. If he breaks running, color him gone. COIL ME HOME dropped far off the fast pace last time, but finished willingly to miss by only slightly more than four lengths. He won his only start on this track by three lengths. THREEFIVEINDIA, unraced since January, returns as a first-time gelding while dropping in for the optional $40k claiming tag. He once was better than these. J T’S A. T. M. is speed, up in class to open company following a Cal-bred N1X upset.