LOS ALAMITOS RACE COURSE

SIXTH RACE

Tough to be too enthused with any of these but FABRICATION has shown some ability, including pressing the pace and staying on well to be a good 2nd in a race just like this here Sept. 21. After that he was a dull 5th at SA Oct. 7, but has been freshened since. He’s worked well and the return to this place may be key. DERBY KINGDOM is a firster and most of the experienced hands in here haven’t shown too much, so if he’s got any talent he can have a say, and a number of his works indicate he does have some ability. MAC MCLOVIN returns as a gelding after over 3 months off. He did show some tactical speed and ability at DMR this summer and won’t have to come back with huge improvement to be a factor vs. this suspect bunch.

SEVENTH RACE

MIZTER KOOL CAT went off form in September but bounced back with two smart outings going shorter here. He’s asked to deal with a longer trip on the ‘bigger’ track here this time, but as noted he’s sharp, has been facing tougher for the most part and catches a very suspect bunch. CHIEF TIGER is probably the one to beat. His lone win came here and he’s been freshened since he ran 2nd to a runaway winner (who, coincidentally, came right back to win again) over this track at this trip Sept. 17. HELLUVA CHOICE is an interesting new face. He certainly did some good work back East and obviously has ability, but there’s no denying his best work has come on turf and on a wet main track, neither of which he’ll get here.

EIGHTH RACE

PRIME ISSUE dueled and fizzled at DMR Nov. 19 but that was a brutally tough Cal-bred stakes so you can be forgiving. The winner, Edwards Going Left, is expected to next be seen in the G1 Malibu at SA Dec. 26. He faces no one like that here and today’s big class drop can get him back on track. MATRICULATE comes off a nice 2nd at DMR Nov. 5. Not only was that outing good on its own merit, but it came after 10 months off so he can surely improve. O’Neill saw fit to claim him that day and there are 2 nice works since. BOLSTER made a smart run to grab the lead vs. some nice Cal-bred N1X foes at SA Oct. 27 before finishing 3rd to a runaway winner, who, by the way, came right back to win again. He has speed and versatility.

NINTH RACE

CHRIS AND DAVE was a super 2nd in a race just like this here Sept. 14 when beaten just a head. He then came back to run 2nd to the red-hot Got Even at SA Oct. 14 and that guy came right back to win again. His speed can have him in it from the start. CITY STEEL didn’t do much in 2 tries at DMR but as soon as he away from there he bounced back to sharp form. He figures to come running in the lane and note a win and a 3rd in 2 starts on this track. BEAUMARCHAIS comes here sharp as a tack, having won 3 straight. Not only did Saldana see fit to claim him for $16K off a big win at DMR Nov. 25 but it’s a great sign he brings this guy back in a spot where he can’t be claimed away.

TAKEOUT INFORMATION ■ Win, place, and show: 15.43 % ■ Exacta, Quinella: 22.68% ■ Trifecta, Superfecta, Super Hi-5, Pick 3, Pick 4, Pick 6: 23.68% ■ 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.