Los Alamitos for Sunday 24 April 2016
For those of you planning on purchasing our special ($34.95) full card selections for Churchill Downs on Derby Day, May 7th please don't procrastinate as logistically it makes in easier on yours truly setting up the emails that will be sent at about 6 p.m. central time on Friday night, May 6th. Thank you.
Best of luck as always!
race 1 Â Â above average clarity
6  Vocalist   claimed for 16K two back by Ted West and company......connections might be "lured" into this conditioned 8K claimer as their aren't any nw3 claiming races at Lrc so why not place their filly here where she stands out and seems likely to win if she has held form......basically a break even proposition if someone claims her and she wins
3  Clem Juice  good history at Lrc (4 2 1 0) and 5 1/2F is also a good fit.......likes contact with the front end and she should be able to get it in this spot without much early speed
2  Incentive Award  3 wins and a 2nd in 4 lifetime starts elsewhere......away since Jan of 2015 but working well enough to possibly compete at this low level.......proven she can run fresh as she won her maiden debut by 6L
race 2 Â Â average clarity
5  Stewball  beat 1/2 his foes following a bad start in his last his 2nd lifetime start........works since the effort is vastly improved.......and a major lead rider upgrade to say the least.......rather sure this fellow fires his lifetime best today.......to what degree is the question mark
1  Prohibition Repeal  only has hit the board twice (running 3rd in both) in 6 lifetime races.....so.......the drop into mid-priced maiden claiming makes sense.....and Eric Kruljac is quite dangerous going from MSW to MC
2  Fleetside  decent drill for this Marty Jones 1st timer......and mom has tossed an impressive 6 winners from 6 starters.......success with 1st timers is not the trainer's forte but this guy seems dangerous
race 3 Â Â average clarity
5  Hi Fever  laid up Glatt four-year old filly is out working anyone in this affair by a ton....and Glatt historically is stout with laid up sprinters.....believe all set for best
4  Warren's Purrfect  appreciates ample time between starts and gets........and I like these kind as they need to be fully ready as it likely will be a couple of months before they can run their best again
2  Chalking It Up  race lacks speed and she owns some.....but what I really took notice of was her vastly improved a.m. work.....maybe Becerra has tweaked something for the better
race 4 Â Â average clarity
6  Storm the Shore  toss out last as it appears turf isn't his thing.......back to the main track where he was steadily improving.......drops into high-priced maiden claiming from MSW racing........and he is a 1st time gelding.......seems well meant today
5  Beaumarchais  solid hidden move forward in his 2nd lifetime start as this colt dueled in solid pace on a dull......been away since Sept, but training decently for start no. 3 and drops some
1  Freemark  colt fits if he has remained OK physically......but....... his 4 MSW races aren't bad and he cost $800,000 at sale.....so.....drop into MC75K seems suspicious......tough call if he has a decent race left in him or not for Baffert and company
race 5 Â Â below average clarity
2  Divina Comedia  sure like the cut back in distance as this mare has flattened out some in her last two endeavors which were at 1 1/16th.....seems likely to sit in a nice stalk position which was the case in her last win.......that win run last June at SA and run at one mile like today
4  Swiss Skimmer  1st out following the Baltas claim and Baltas gets Bejarano to take the mount......"need to lead" type has to put away another speedy horse to her outside.......or........learn to rate some......and that is not impossible with Raffy up
1  Backintheacademy  his best races have come turf to dirt but that is not the case today.......but this is a soft nw2 alw race and she might be able to compete for the top prize without her best
race 6 Â above average clarity
3  Commander Lute  ridiculously wide trip in his last......did extremely well to only get beat by 7L for the win........near bullet 4F drill since.......Talamo should be out to make amends and has a better post and much smaller field to cope with to accomplish the task
6  Gato Pimiento  last race was dull.....race prior to that was not.......ran very wide and still only was beaten by 1 1/4L.......shot here if he rebounds to it
4  He's a Real Keeper  gelding fits but he sure likes to hang come crunch time........and his rider seldom wins......only 2 wins in his last 100 mounts.....decent horse but might take a minor miracle to win
race 7 Â Â below average clarity
3  Nine Point Nine  3 for 3 when put up for a tag since Cerin claimed back in October.....in for a tag today.....sharp recent bullet work.....hard not to like
1  Ok Doll  race 2 back is a fit.......last race is not......Richard Baltas is very good at getting these kind to bounce back.....and the recent works support the notion.....very dangerous especially put up for a tag
7  Rockantharos  poor fig in last but she might feel good coming off such an easy paced loose lead win........needs her effort run in her MSW debut
5  Sooner Time  Â
race 8 Â Â average clarity
5  Moment is Right  seems like a good "pick-up" for Callaghan from Wesley Ward........nice races out East.....and proven fresh.......decent work tab and blinkers off for today........indicates the equipment change is likely to be a positive
1  Surfside Tiara  4 of her 5 lifetime sprints fit well in this spot......and the combo of Martin Garcia and Jerry Hollendorfer have been stout for the last 3 or 4 months or so.....hard not to like
4  Code Warrior  has done little wrong in 4 lifetime sprints and arguably her best was her lone race on conventional dirt.....not out of this by any means
race 9 Â Â average clarity
8  City State  last sure fits well in this spot......same jock - track - trainer - and distance today........the ? for me is can this six-year-old handle his 4th start in April........Jacobson is one goofy trainer in S Cal so far but he sure is doing well at the Lrc meeting with Desormeaus as his go to "guy"
1  Zip the Monkey  bad trip impressive 2nd two races back albeit on a very sloppy track......recent drills hint he is ready to rebound to that effort........and look who jumps aboard.......Sir Bejarano
7  Indygo Holiday  best ever and a fit here is his lone route race on fast rated dirt run 3 races back....gradated quite easily on an off track in last.....might feel good......not out of this if he does
5 Â Pulmarack
3 Â Eight Spokes