ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 3, VA VA VEGAS

FIRST RACE

First post, 12 noon. Plenty of speed in this starter allowance sprint to set up the rally of DR WYSONG. She spent much of her career dilly-dallying in routes and turf races, but it sure looks like she prefers sprinting on dirt. Both her wins were one-turn dirt races. Her recent races on turf are okay and she is reunited with the Flavien Prat, who rode her to both wins. She ran win rallying from behind a contested pace. ETERNAL ENDEAVOUR, one-two 8 of 14, could tuck into a cozy trip positioned right behind the speed and in front of the closers. When/if the pace backs up, she would be among the first to attack. Her only sprint at Los Alamitos was a five-length win in summer 2019. UNO TROUBLE MAKER got loose on an easy lead last time, yet was unable to hold off the winner in a somewhat disappointing performance. But she got beat by a good horse. The winner Take a Leap came right back to win her third straight next out. ‘MAKER is speed, and likely to be hounded by last-out winner CA DREAMER and PREMIER LADY.

SECOND RACE

SEE THROUGH IT won a highly rated restricted claiming race against older last out, and if he runs two alike while wheeling back in 13 days, he can handle these 3-year-claiming sprinters. He is a Los Al horse-for-course day and night, and looks like the speed of the field. Come and catch him. BEDROCK rallied wide to score a convincing $16k claiming N2L win vs. older; he is not facing any better in this age-restricted claiming race. But he needs pace up front to flatter his closing rally, which may or may not happen. The top choice could be loose. HIDDEN PROMISE runs back in eight days after a modest third. He seems to be headed the wrong way, however. He won a $40k claiming sprint in summer, last out he lost for $12.5k. His stablemate CARPE VICTORIAM is fast enough off his Midwest form, but neither start in California was particularly noteworthy.

THIRD RACE

First-time starter VA VA VEGAS has worked well for his debut, the Bob Baffert trainee might have these Cal-bred special-weight maidens over a barrel. He showed speed both recent gate works (viewed on XBTV.com), he dueled with the unraced $575k yearling Wildcat Nation in both works and displayed competitiveness both drills. The inside post is an obvious challenge for any first-time starter, but ‘VEGAS appears to have speed and if he runs like he trains, this race might be history. GORDY’S BOY improved a bunch second out, finishing a promising third when he switched to turf. The return to dirt adds uncertainty, but he is improving and other than the top choice, this state-bred field is not that tough. First-time starter BOB DANIELS is by high-percent debut sire Race Day (18 percent winners, 2yo first-time starters). His dam produced six multiple winners, seven overall. Works look good on paper; trainer Jeff Mullins popped with a pair of debut juveniles this summer at Del Mar (Canoodling, Roll Up Mo Money). COMPLELE CONTROL is a seven-start maiden who fits off his maiden-50 seconds two and three starts back.

FOURTH RACE

Based on a romping victory last out in a G3 at seven furlongs, the improving RED FLAG should be able to carry his speed two turns in the G2 Los Alamitos Futurity at a mile and a sixteenth. Each start by RED FLAG has been better than the start before; he produced surprising speed last out and ran away to win by more than seven lengths. The manner in which he finished the sprint suggests this two-turn distance is within range, and he has trained very well for John Shirreffs since his most recent start. He will have company on the front end, but he had company last time and it was no bother. From the inside post he must use his

speed. Long gone with a front-running or pacepressing trip? SPIELBERG misfired behind the top choice last out, but maybe he had an alibi. He was wheeling back only two weeks after a relatively fast maiden win, and shortening from a route to a sprint. He cracked in the duel. Now he has nearly five weeks between starts, worked well since raced, and stretches back to the distance at which he ran the best race of his career. His trainer Bob Baffert won this race all six years since it moved from Hollywood Park to LRC, and 12 times in the past 23 years. PETRUCHIO improved significantly his last two starts, which coincides with being gelded, switching to turf and stretching to two turns. He is not a flashy work horse, and therefore a tough read regarding his ability on the main track. But there is no doubt he is improving and his off-the-pace style suits the pace scenario. WESTON has speed and will keep the top choice honest.

FIFTH RACE

KATE BOSS adds blinkers after an improved runnerup finish last out when she dropped to maidenclaiming for her third start. She is unknown on dirt, having raced exclusively on turf and synthetic, but her ability is evident by her most recent start. Should be fast enough. RESPECTFULLY chased and cracked first out, facing much tougher than this field. Class drop to maiden-30 can only help, although second-start maiden-claiming category is not a great category for this stable (past five years: 7 percent wins, 38-cent ROI per $2 win bet. FELICIDAD LEGADA returns from a six-month layoff, drops in for a claim tag and gets a top rider. She probably is better than her first two starts in spring might suggest. Also-eligible DISKO FEVER would be making her debut with fast works.

SIXTH RACE

LUGIA was purchased as a yearling for $540k; he makes his career debut for $20k. Not exactly optimistic placement. But his works over the LRC track look quick, and his main rivals are career maidens. It’s a good spot for a first-time starter. GOV FROM ABOVE enters with the highest last-out figure, a 59 Beyer runner-up-by-a-nose finish. He benefitted by the slow pace in that race, but he was competitive all the way to the wire. LUCKY RYAN SEVEN should be among the favorites based on three successive in-the-money finishes. MR. CLUTCH virtually split the field last out in his first try at this class level; WILD CAT CANYON is a 13-start maiden with enough speed to set or press the pace.

SEVENTH RACE

LULUMARU improved in late summer and fall when she stretched to two turns after sprinting the early part of her career. With her two-turn pedigree, it is no surprise her route races are better than her sprints. And though her recent starts have been on synthetic at GG, she ran well on dirt at Emerald Downs. Off two months, the 4-for-12 pro gets the call to win this $8k claiming mile. SENORADIABLO has been a sprinter most of her career, but she did win a turf mile in spring 2019 and she has been running okay recently against better company than she meets here. ARIES was re-claimed for $4k last time by trainer Aggie Ordonez, who won seven races with the veteran mare before losing her for $10k three starts ago. Off two months, up in class off a loss, the 5yo could return to peak form back with her former trainer. Also-eligible BOONSEBORO BEAUTY has run races that put her in the hunt. Tough outside post, of course.

EIGHTH RACE

DANCING DANA had a tough trip last out, third at the favorite after she stumbled at the break and lost ground while running long. Under the circumstances, her third by less than two lengths was actually oaky. She returns to a sprint, has speed to be on or near the lead, and should be tough if she runs as well as she did two back finishing second in a similar starter allowance sprint. DO

YOU HEAR THAT, the only two-time winner in this field of 2yo fillies, could vie for favoritism off her front-running N1X/optional claiming win last out. She will be involved in the pace scenario. RUTHIES

RACER has improved each successive start, her fourth last out was not bad; she was facing rivals a little tougher than these. YELLOW DRESS is a maiden facing winners, yet her last-out speed figure gives her a big look. She would not be the first maiden to win a starter allowance for winners.

NINTH RACE

STALKING SHADOW drops from Cal-bred maiden50 to open maiden-30; he split the field last out in his first start on this track while running the fastest race of his career. His even-paced style suggests this mile trip is perfect. Trainer Jonathan Wong and jockey Flavien Prat have teamed eight times (through last weekend): two wins, all eight finished in the money. FATHER O’FLAHERTY drops from the same race as the top choice. Although he finished behind his rival, one could argue ‘FLAHERTY ran a better race because he was closer to the pace. Blinkers off, seven-pound apprentice on, contender on the stretch-out to a mile. COLAVITO finished more than eight lengths clear of third last out in a turf route at GG, while

SHORT RIB stretches out from a modest sprint debut; his pedigree is fine for a route.

TENTH RACE

SEICHE drops from MSW to maiden-20, only three starts after finishing second in a MSW at Del Mar. Something has gone awry, it appears. On the other hand, Baffert won with 6 of his last 10 MSW-toMCL droppers. TWIRLING DERBY finished six lengths clear of third last out in a similar race, while NOBLE PURSUIT stretches out from a disappointing sixth-place sprint comeback. GAMBINI is an eight-start maiden, but he is better than his most recent start suggests.