ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 6, GENERAL IKE

FIRST RACE

WARRENS DOLLAR SIGNS wheels back in nine days following an impressive score going 5.5 furlongs against weaker. A repeat of that effort makes her tough in this spot. BACK STREET CAT has tactical speed that should allow her rider to position her just off the speeds drawn to her outside. The main drawback with this mare is her career record of 9-1-2-3; a minor award seems likely today. AIMING STRAIGHT exits a solid effort in a quarter-horse event and has shown the ability in the past to succeed in the afternoons at Los Al.

SECOND RACE

MIDNIGHT CUTE looks to be working nicely in the mornings for Baffert, and it wouldn’t surprise at all to see this daughter of Midnight Lute fire at first asking. CAUSE WE ARE LOYAL is one of two entered with prior experience, and she ran into a couple of decent horses in her debut; the runner up returned to break her maiden with a 71 Beyer Speed Figure. BEYOND AMBITION cost her connections a pretty penny ($1.1 million), and Hollendorfer is more than capable of getting a two-year-old ready to fire out of the box.

THIRD RACE

WATERED DOWN has run respectably in each of his past two starts, and he figures to work out a good trip breaking from the outside post for Mike Machowsky. TRICKONOMICS tries dirt for the first time for trainer Jeff Bonde, and while Bonde has had success in the past with MSW runners going from synthetic to dirt (4-for-17, $2.75 ROI past three years), his lack of finish is concerning; he’s lost ground late in all three of his lifetime starts. HARDCORE TROUBADOR debuts for owner/trainer Edward Freeman, and it’s nice to see Norberto Arroyo, Jr. take the mount at first asking. It’s also nice to see this one having logged a workout farther than the distance he’ll be debuting at (worked seven furlongs on July 5).

FOURTH RACE

AWESOME IMAGE got away with moderate fractions when breaking his maiden on April 23 at Santa Anita, but there’s a chance he could get a similar situation up front today. SEATOSHININGSEA also projects to be forwardly placed in a race that lacks much early zip; a forward move in his second start off the layoff should be expected. BADAS MY WIFE LETS MEB is far from a prolific winner, but he has earned minor awards in two of his past three starts. He’s one to consider using underneath.

FIFTH RACE

PROPHET IN PARADISE appears to be lone speed in this spot off the Ricardo Guillen, Sr. claim; his most recent start at Pleasanton was strong from a speed figure perspective, and a repeat of that effort likely wins here. SMIL’N FROM ABOVE registered a solid effort here on July 6 when finishing second, but that’s the story of her career – she’s settled for minor awards 37 times from 90 lifetime starts. SLIGHTLY gets back to racing in the afternoon following a quarter-horse event here on July 7 and should be considered if playing exotics.

SIXTH RACE

GENERAL IKE ran valiantly in defeat most recently on June 9, setting a hot pace before paying the price late. Ike makes his third start off a long layoff for Ron Ellis and projects to get a more favorable pace scenario; he looms as a major threat. UNINVITED doesn’t like to win races, but from a speed figure standpoint he must be used underneath – he’s finished second or third nine times. PICTURE TUBE just broke his maiden at Santa Anita on June 2 in career start number 17; he’s shown a penchant for settling for minor awards in the past, and in his first try against winners, that may be the ceiling for him.

SEVENTH RACE

CISTRON has successfully transitioned from

turf to dirt in the past, and there’s a real chance he could be the controlling speed of the Los Al Derby. Look for Tyler Baze to send this son of The Factor from the gate and establish a forward position throughout. WEST COAST was visually very impressive winning the Easy Goer at Belmont Park on Belmont Stakes day, but it must be noted that he had a very advantageous pace scenario unfold in front of him; he doesn’t appear to be getting a comparable situation today. COLONIST tries stakes company for the first time in his young career for Jerry Hollendorfer, and in many ways he may be the runner with the most upside in this group. KLIMT makes his return to the races for Art Sherman, and he’s one that may need a race – and a shorter distance – before showing his best.

EIGHTH RACE

WONDERING WAYS finished more than seven lengths behind the winner of a maiden race here at Los Al on July 8; the odd thing about that race – Wondering Ways also finished more than seven lengths clear of the third place finisher in an eight horse field. A repeat of that effort at the very least puts him in contention. GATO DOLCE has plenty of Beyers that make him a contender, but he’s far from the most trustworthy, with a career record of 8-0-4-1. SOONER BOOMER figures to be forwardly placed throughout with the addition of blinkers, and often times speed carries in lower level maiden races.