ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 6, EDWARDS GOING LEFT

FIRST RACE

The 870-yard distance was too sharp last time for LOVE YOUR LIFE; he finished fifth of six. He “stretches out” to five and a half, drops in class to restricted $6,250 claiming and ran races in June and July plenty fast enough for these. KALUHLA is quick, probably the one to catch. He wired an 870-yarder last time; the race turned out live. The two-three finishers returned to finish second, the fifth-place finisher returned to win. ATOMIC ACTION is a grinding closer that will pick them up late.

SECOND RACE

If her last-place fiasco two weeks ago can be disregarded due to the four-way pace duel, and if she can stay two turns which she has never tried on dirt, then TOPAZ TIME can win this $12.5k claiming N2L route. Her sprint figures are the fastest in the lineup; she looks like the speed of the field. Come catch her. INLAND EMPIRE drops drastically in class, from Cal-bred N1X to the lowest level of her career. She has never shown any speed, but she will pick them up late. LOOKING AT THELAKE ran okay both recent starts at Del Mar; this is an easier spot. Although she is 1-for-22 with eight runner-up finishes, this is only the second time she raced at the bottom level. LETHAL LEGACY, 1-for-39, will pick them up late. Including her lone victory, she hit the board 15 times.

THIRD RACE

This maiden-20 sprint is a split of race 5. LUCKY STASH is the speed of the field based on her offslow, rush, press and fade last fall. She returns at rock bottom, is drawn comfortably outside and might be the speed of the field. JABBER NOW also has speed, dropping for the first time from special-weight to run for a tag. She showed speed and tired both starts this summer at Del Mar; perhaps this (likely) quicker surface will be more conducive to speed. Perhaps. This analysis was written prior to the first race of the fall meet. LUV IS ALL U NEED adds blinkers and makes her second start back from a long layoff. Improvement is likely. LUCKY HAND drops to a new low.

FOURTH RACE

The ambitiously campaigned LUCKY STUDENT is the one to catch in this $8k claiming sprint. Although she raced four times during the Del Mar meet, she held her form all summer including a respectable fifth last out in a Cal-bred N1X on turf. She drops to $8k claiming starter, should clear the field, and is the likely favorite to race gate to wire. If she misfires, stretch-runner PRINCESS KENDRA could be along in time. The 9-for-40 veteran won an $8k claiming sprint in July at Del Mar, she has two wins at Los Al, and a running style opposite the top choice. That is a good thing. Look for ‘KENDRA late. ADIOS CALI also has two wins here. She was re-claimed last time by her former trainer. Trouble is, the top pair defeated her in each of her last two starts.

FIFTH RACE

This maiden-20 sprint is a split of race 3. WHATA FLIRT drops from Cal-bred MSW to the bottom, and adds blinkers for her first start in four months. It does not get any easier than this. GRANDMA NETA improved second time out, fifth of eight in a maiden-40. Down to the bottom for the third start of her career, while adding blinkers. GRANDMA GERTRUDE was overmatched in her career debut in a MSW on turf. She finished last. Have to believe she has more ability than that race suggests.

SIXTH RACE

Two turns is new for EDWARDS GOING LEFT, but

that is the lone concern. The truth is, one mile against California-bred stakes rivals looks within reach for the 7-for-13 stakes-winning gelding. His comeback was a solid fourth in a Grade 1 sprint, he worked well since and is a fresh horse making just his second start on the comeback trail. His final work last Saturday at Del Mar was super; six furlongs in 1:12.60 and reportedly galloped out seven furlongs in 1:24.80. Second start back, first try around two turns and first at Los Al for a stable fresh off an outstanding Del Mar (eight stakes), EDWARDS GOING LEFT gets the nod over 10-year-old millionaire SOI PHET. The latter won this race the past two years, he is 5-for-9 overall on this racetrack. His most recent start was a toss. That four-horse race was strangely run; SOI PHET made an early move, then went flat. He runs best rallying from behind, and he does appreciate the long 1,380-foot Los Al stretch. SOI PHET will roll late. B SQUARED drops from Grade 2; he finished only a nose behind SOI PHET when they met on this track in July. GRECIAN FIRE will rally late; TOUCHED BY AUTISM should be forwardly placed.

SEVENTH RACE

The 2yo filly RANEEM makes her career debut for a trainer whose debut juveniles this year are virtually unstoppable. Bob Baffert entered the week 11-for-14 this season with first-out juveniles. RANEEM worked well this summer at Del Mar, and in July and August she posted a pair of bullet gate works over the Los Alamitos surface. All systems go, first time out. MS MO MONEY is an Uncle Mo filly produced by the fast mare Miss Dolce. ‘MONEY is likely to have speed; her sharp summer workouts have been over the Los Al surface. Also-eligible AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE also has been posting fast work times at Los Al. ‘ANDY and the top choice are sired by Fed Biz, whose progeny are 2-for-21 first out. TIZ A SHARPIE is a Tiznow filly making her debut at five and a half. Based on pedigree, she might want longer. But she should be rolling late.

EIGHTH RACE

GAS STATION SUSHI looks tough to beat in this stakes race for 3yo fillies, her first start in four months. She runs well fresh (debut winner, graded winner her first start this year), she trained well for her return and is comfortably drawn (post 5 of 7). ‘SUSHI was off through summer due to “stiffness,” her comeback workouts indicate she is feeling good and set to fire first start back for trainer Richard Baltas. RAYYA ranked among the top fillies in Dubai during winter and spring; she won a G3 and finished second to Mendelssohn in the G2 UAE Derby. RAYYA raced only once in the U.S., a Kentucky Oaks debacle in which she broke awkwardly and basically trailed throughout. Now that she has been in Bob Baffert’s care the past several months, as opposed to just weeks into the Oaks, she should return as an improved filly. Six furlongs is the shortest distance she has tried; her fast workouts indicate the distance will be fine. STEPH BEING STEPH gave G1 winner Moonshine Memories a battle in July, missing by a head. Good comeback for ‘STEPH, who won a maiden race on this track last fall by nearly four lengths. ‘STEPH has the field’s highest last-start speed figure (87 Beyer). WICKED STORM crushed older N1X sprinters by four lengths on this track in July.

NINTH RACE

THREE AY EM drops to maiden-30 after pressing fast fractions and tiring both recent starts at Del Mar vs. Cal-bred special-weight rivals. ‘EM could be the speed of this field, though from the outside post he has the option of pressing the pace. Either way, he will be racing in the clear and the fractions should be easier than he faced recently. SILENT ALARM also pressed and faded his recent starts. He moves from Cal-bred maiden-50 to open maiden-30, probably a parallel class move, and takes off blinkers. The past four years, trainer Mike Machowsky is 8-for22 (36 percent) with Los Al maiden sprinters. RUNNINGW SCISSORS takes a major drop from open MSW; AGRONOMO finished third at long odds in his debut and enters with the top laststart speed figure in the lineup.