LOS ALAMITOS RACE COURSE ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 5, LAVA LANE

FIRST RACE

Opening day at Los Alamitos Racecourse, first post 1 p.m. WHENDUCKSFLY gets the call in this low-level N2L claiming sprint based on a creditable fourth last out against better company on turf at Golden Gate, and established form Los Al dirt (night racing, shorter track configuration). ‘DUCKS has speed, he is drawn outside his main pace rivals, and should be involved early under sevenpound apprentice Cesar Ortega. WHATSITTOYA, pace rival for the top choice and drawn directly to his inside, takes a massive drop from open $12.5k claiming. This low-level race is the easiest chance this year for ‘TOYA, whose five-pound apprentice Jessica Pyfer was the third-leading rider at this track during the December meet. WESTERN RULE makes his third start following a layoff, first at Los Al since his debut victory last year. ACCORDING TO PLAN will rally late; LOST THE MINISTER has speed and will influence the pace.

SECOND RACE

Nine-time winner AWHITESPORTSCOAT returns to the daytime Los Al configuration in peak form; he missed by neck last out. His most recent daytime win was at this $8k claiming starter level last year on this track. Five furlongs is a perfect distance for the midpack stalker to reel in the speed. ARGOSY FLEET figures as one of the favorites based on sharp recent races at this starter allowance level at Golden Gate; third and second. He is equally effective on traditional dirt footing, having finished one-two 6 of 11, and should get first run over the top choice. AUTUMN DAY is speed, seeking his first win since summer 2019. LRC horse-forcourse ROYAL SEEKER will rally late. His recent form is subpar, but he often wakes up on this racetrack. All three wins here. Late-running longshot? LOVE YOUR LIFE should contest the pace.

THIRD RACE

First time in for a claim tag, OUR MISS MILLIE returns to her preferred footing, which seems to be dirt. Her fifth-place finish two back on dirt in a highly rated Cal-bred special-weight earned a figure fast enough to handle these Calbred maiden-50s; her fifth last out was okay considering the winner (Lava Lane) is expected to be favored in a Cal-bred allowance that is race 5. ‘MILLIE rallies from behind; closers won frequently at 5.5 furlongs the past two July meets. SUPERSONIC FLYER employs the opposite style. ‘FLYER is pure speed, shortening from a pair of runner-up finishes at longer distances. The past two July LRC meets, pacesetters won just 7 of 44 (16 percent) at this 5.5-furlong distance. SPANISH CHANNEL is a 22-start maiden who missed by a neck in her comeback a month ago; she has run well over the LRC track. COMPLETE CONTROL has run races that give her an upset chance.

FOURTH RACE

If she improves off her comeback, TAKE A LEAP should be tough in this $16k claiming starter. She won on this track at this level in fall, her figures are consistently higher than her rivals, and her pressing style should lead to a comfortable trip positioned just off the speed. Her sixth-place comeback three weeks ago was okay; it was her first start in nearly six months. Second start back, the one to beat. LADY ROBIN improved this spring after being claimed by trainer Lorenzo Campuzano. Her recent starts include thirds against tougher at Santa Anita. Those were turf races; she can run on dirt. Expect her to be forwardly placed. RANEEM stretches out for the first time, with speed to make the lead if she wants it. Bob Baffert won more LRC races (98-for-305) than any trainer since daytime racing began here in 2014 (32 percent win rate).

FIFTH RACE

The visually impressive maiden win by lightly raced LAVA LANE stamps her the one to beat switching to dirt in this Cal-bred N1X. She crushed her comeback by more than five lengths, six rivals behind her returned to hit the board in subsequent maiden races including runner-up Queen of Pompeii, who ran super finishing third last weekend. LAVA LANE has been training over the LRC dirt surface for more than a year, so the switch from turf to dirt is not likely an issue. Up the ladder with the Unusual Heat filly. CAPITAL HEAT won her only start at LRC last year, her recent turf races

are solid. ‘HEAT is the fastest in the field based on speed figures. TEN THE SMART WAY returns from a five-month layoff. She beat a good field of maidens her last start in January (two next-out winners, four next-out runners-up); trainer Andy Mathis is holding a hot hand (4-for-last-9) including recent stakes wins at Golden Gate and SA.

MOON MISCHIEF is a 10-start maiden stretching to a route for the first time, which sufficient speed to make the lead over a modest group of maiden-20s. Not sure how far he wants to run, but he is likely to be hustled to the front from the inside post. Come and catch him. SALAH is a 16-start maiden whose form might be better than it looks. He was prepping in two comeback sprints in March and May; he was caught wide last out and finished a distant seventh without a fair shot. Suspect he is better than any of his three recent races suggest. Price play? SILENT MUSKETIER is a 24-start maiden with the top speed figures in the field, albeit on turf. MONGOL ALTAI will be closing from dead last. If the top choice does not stay, this race could unfold in favor of his closing style.

SEVENTH RACE

I WILL NOT could tuck into a cozy trip positioned third behind front-running contenders FRATELLI and NOTRE DAME. The recent starts by I WILL NOT have been relatively fast, including a fourth last out that was validated when runner-up Howbeit returned to win a highly rated allowance last weekend. Furthermore, I WILL NOT ran well on this track late last year. He was listed as a vet scratch June 6, but worked twice since. FRATELLI is pure speed; he virtually wired a field of Cal-bred N1X rivals three back on dirt in an effort that is fast enough to win this. His two recent turf sprints also were sharp: fourth last out, and Cal-bred winner two back. He could wire the field, depending on how much pressure is applied by NOTRE DAME. The latter won three straight (maiden-claiming, two starter allowances) prior to a runner-up finish last out on turf. Win or lose, he should help keep the pace honest.

EIGHTH RACE

FATHER O’FLAHERTY, an eight-start maiden with five in-the-money finishes, makes his first start of 2021 with a work pattern that suggests he is ready to fire first start back. He earned relatively decent figures last year as a 2yo; trainer Steve Miyadi has excellent stats with maiden-claiming comebackers off six months or more: 7-for-18 (39 percent) past five years. All systems go. VAPORIZED finished an okay third in his career debut last month against Cal-bred special-weights; he aggressively drops to maiden-30 for his second start. He won’t need a whole lot of improvement to contend with these. He was listed as a vet scratch June 13; he worked a half-mile five days later. BRON AND THE BROW debuts with decent works for a trainer that pops with first-timers every once in a while. 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: 15.43%

■ Exacta: 22.68%

■ Trifecta, Superfecta, Super Hi-5, Pick 3, Pick 4,

Pick 6: 23.68%

■ Early 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.