Wong has half-dozen entered on card

CYPRESS, Calif. – The most active trainer on the eight-race program at Los Alamitos on Thursday will not be in attendance.

Jonathan Wong, based at Golden Gate Fields, has six horses entered, including one on the also-eligible list. Wong will be watching from his base in Northern California because trainers from that circuit are not permitted on the grounds at Los Alamitos during the coronavirus pandemic.

Instead, Northern Californiabased trainers have sent horses to colleagues at Los Alamitos who handle raceday duties. There has been a rise in activity at Los Alamitos from Northern California trainers due to a coronavirus outbreak among the stable area community at

Golden Gate Fields. The track ceased racing on Nov. 13 and is tentatively scheduled to reopen on Dec. 26, though that is far from certain.

“I’m just glad we have a place run,” Wong said Sunday.

Wong’s starters on Thursday are a mix of veteran claimers and first-time starters on a program that lacks a true feature race.

The stable’s first runner of the day is the 2-year-old filly Run the Blues Away, who starts in a $30,000 claimer for California-bred maidens going 5 1/2 furlongs in the second race. Run the Blues Away has worked steadily at Golden Gate Fields since early October.

“Run the Blues Away has showed some ability,” Wong said. “This is a good spot for her. We need to run.”

Governance, a 3-year-old gelding, starts in the third race, a $16,000 claimer at a mile. Governance closed from fourth in a field of seven to finish second in a $20,000 claimer on the synthetic main track at Golden Gate Fields on Nov. 6.

“Governance showed a new dimension when he came from off the pace,” Wong said. “We’ll see how he handles the dirt.”

Cimpl Man starts in the sixth race, a $12,500 claimer at a mile. Cimpl Man was second by two lengths in a $20,000 claimer on turf at Golden Gate Fields on Oct. 25. An 8-year-old gelding, Cimpl Man has won 5 of 35 starts and typically runs from a stalking position.

“Cimpl Man is an old veteran,” Wong said. “He tries every time.”

In the fifth race, Lady Brexit, a 4-year-old filly, is on the alsoeligible list of a one-mile race for $10,500 to $12,500 claimers. Lady Brexit won a $20,000 claimer at Golden Gate Fields at a mile on turf on Nov. 6.

In the fourth and eighth races, Wong runs the 2-yearold first-time starters Stone Cold Lady and Autism Can Do in $30,000 claiming races for maidens at 5 1/2 furlongs. Stone Cold Lady runs against fillies, while Autism Can Do starts in an open race.

Wong is taking a wait-andsee approach regarding their chances.

“We’re getting a race for them,” he said. “A chance for them to stretch their legs.”

Wong said he anticipates being active through the end of the Los Alamitos meet on Dec. 20. On Friday’s eight-race program, Wong has entered horses in four races.