ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 2, JOE DON LOONEY

FIRST RACE

SATCHEL DE RITCHES should be tough, dropping from a respectable fourth vs. older N3L claiming sprinters into a claiming for 3yos. ‘RITCHES also moves from the rail to an outside post, and figures for a stalking trip in the clear. He shortened stride noticeably last out; this group is easier. HIDDEN PROMISE plummets from $40-50k claiming 3yos all the way to $12.5k. His figures are among the highest in the field; he also benefits from a return to dirt. Six starts on “fast” produced two wins, two seconds. ‘PROMISE is not particularly quick, but he will be rolling late over a racetrack that was fair to all running styles last week. TRUMP UM is a four-victory speedster in from Golden Gate, where he wired a similar field last out. The two pace rivals that chased him partway finished last, and next to last. Front-runner TRUMP UM is probably the one to catch.

SECOND RACE

The 2yo JOE DON LOONEY won a highly rated maiden-50 first out, and is realistically placed in a $32k claiming race first try against winners. His debut victory was flattered Saturday when third place Shimmer Me Timbers returned to win with a 69 Beyer. The trainer of ‘LOONEY, Steve Miyadi, is 7-for-9 since autumn 2019 with lastout maiden winners that go favored first against winners. BIG DUKE is a two-time winner already, with improving speed figures. He was in tough his most recent start, last in an allowance, but these claiming rivals are within reach. LUCKY ROCKET is the speed of the field based on the blazing fractions (:21.65 and :45.54) he set before fading in his California debut. He will take the field as far as he can. Two starts back, he scored a seven-length victory in his career debut at Sweetwater Downs in Rock Springs, Wyoming. AUTISM ABILITY will rally late, while trying to reproduce his last-out maiden-12.5k win.

THIRD RACE

This claiming sprint for 2yo winners is the filly equivalent of the second race, and Miyadi-trained last-out maiden winner LUXURY LINER is the one to beat. She dabbled vs. Cal-bred special-weight maidens and a couple turf races, but was in too tough. She found her friends last out when she dropped to maiden-50 and won with the highest figure of her five-start career. The gray has been training at Los Alamitos all year, this is her first start on her home track. NOVA STAR returned from a layoff of three months with an improved runnerup finish first against winners. She benefitted from a ground-saving trip, and rallied into second behind the front-running winner. It was a relatively fast race based on figures; her 57 Beyer tops this field. JOYMAKER misfired without a visible alibi last out, unless it was the quick early pace. Disappointing fourth-place finish, but her runner-up finish two starts back puts her in the hunt. Alsoeligible RISEN LADY won a turf route by open lengths last out in early October. Uncertain about dirt, but she clearly has ability.

FOURTH RACE

When she runs her race, speedster RED LIVY is too fast for these $10k claiming fillies and mares. The nine-win veteran returns from a three-month layoff (listed as vet scratch Nov. 7), drops in class, and though she faces pace pressure, she enters as the “best horse” in the field and the one to catch. If the pace falls apart, then CARRIE’S SUCCESS could be along in time. She also drops, also has won at LRC, and her closing style is opposite the top choice. ‘SUCCESS, a six-time winner, will rally late. STAR SUNDAE is a Los Al night specialist in sharp form with speed to keep the top choice honest up front. LA nighttime runners held their own opening week, four wins the first three days of the meet. UNTOUCHED ELEGANCE has run races fast enough for this level, but she finished last in her comeback and it is unclear if she still has desire.

FIFTH RACE

Comebacker SUMMER ROSE and sharp shipper LIVIN’ AT THE BU top this maiden sprint for Calbred fillies and mares. SUMMER ROSE showed promise in her career debut as a 2yo, runner-up behind subsequent stakes winner Sneaking Out. Off since that race two years ago, ‘ROSE returns with a solid work pattern and should run her best race first start back. Long gone? ‘LIVIN AT THE BU improved a bunch second out, rallying

from midpack to miss by a neck to the odds-on favorite. Both races were on synthetic, no reason she will not handle the switch to dirt. She will fly late. GEMMA ROYAL changed trainers since her last start in June, runner-up in a maiden-20 that produced three next-out winners. Ambitious class hike from maiden-claiming to Cal-bred specialweight signals optimism; improvement likely first start for trainer Richard Baltas. WIN LIKE COACH P ran like she needed a start in her comeback a month ago. She can move forward with that prep behind her.

SIXTH RACE

This MSW sprint for 2yos is a good spot to take a shot at a price with second-start maiden KENNEBEC. His third-place debut was only okay, he appears to have perked up since. His works include a bullet five-eighths at Santa Anita, followed by a stamina-building six furlongs, and a half-mile blowout a week ago. Expect the Ryan Hansontrained second-time starter to improve with a race under his belt, possibly overlaid odds. Otherwise, the race goes through one of the Bob Bafferttrained first-time starters including DEMOCRAT. The latter is a Candy Ride firster whose workout videos are only okay. But first-time starters from this outfit typically are ready to fire. He was listed as a vet scratch Nov. 22, the race won by Life is Good. Their stablemate MEDINA SPIRIT also has workouts that are just okay. Baffert and jockey Abel Cedillo won with the last three first-time starters they teamed with (Exotic West, Saville Row, Classier). First-time starter DIVA’S FINALE has been working regularly from the gate at LRC, posting fast times. His stablemate EAGLE CHIEF is an Into Mischief gelding making his debut.

SEVENTH RACE

Lightly raced ACTING OUT returns to dirt following a decisive N1X turf sprint win; her fast work times at LRC suggest she will handle the surface switch fine. Her only previous dirt start was a sharp runner-up finish in her debut. ACTING OUT is fast, and though she faces a challenging pace scenario in a field with several other front-runners, she has coped with fast fractions in the past. She is the one to beat with a front-running/pace-pressing trip. SQUARE PEGGY is a seven-time winner entered for the optional $40k claim tag. She scored fast-pace front-running wins both recent starts at GG, she has won at LRC, and from the inside post (2 of 10), her only option is to go. The speed of the speed, come and catch her. A MELIS finished second in a similar N1X sprint won in fast time by a filly (Himiko) who could be a candidate for the G1 La Brea Stakes on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita. A MELIS won her only start on this track from slightly off the pace. She would benefit from a similar strategy here. Horse-for-course HOTITUDE was outclassed last time in a stakes race. She returns to the N1X level, four LRC starts produced two wins and two seconds.

EIGHTH RACE

UNION DANCE drops from MSW to maiden-20. Although he is an eight-start maiden, his previous maiden-claiming start produced a third-place finish by less than a length. He returns to an appropriate level and has speed to be forwardly placed in a race short on pace. SQUARED STRAIGHT also drops. His ability on dirt is uncertain, but his turf races are plenty fast enough. AIR JOCKEY finished second both recent starts at this level; the 6yo maiden will find a field he can beat sooner or later. CHOSEN MOON lost his chance when he stumbled at the break last out. He might deserve another chance, second start back. 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: 24.02%

■ Trifecta, Superfecta, Super Hi-5, Pick 3, Pick 4, Pick 6: 25.02%

■ 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.