9/13/15 Los Alamitos Race Course Late Pick Four - Preview

It's the first of two Sundays of sunlight racing in the "These Dates Used To Belong To Fairplex" Meet at Los Alamitos.  And speaking of Fairplex, it was eleven years ago today that Lava Man won The Derby Trial Stakes, his first start after having been claimed by Trainer Doug O'Neill one month earlier.  All of which is my way of saying that I have absolutely nothing in the way of introduction today.  So let's just get to it as we take another run at The Late Pick Four at Orange County's own Los Alamitos Race Course.

RACE 6 - (F) Md $20k - Six and a Half Furlongs Dirt

A’s

# 6 Just Bookin (Morning Line 8-1)
# 11 Stella Moon (ML 3-1)

B's

None

C's

# 4 Unusual Storm (ML 5-2)

# 1 Honky Tonk Diva (No Line) is a program scratch.  Also scratch # 2 Big Ruler (ML 6-1); # 3 Korcha Kid (ML 20-1); and # 5 Spiritofthescript (ML 7-2).

Just Bookin earned the best Beyer Speed Figure of her career in her sole prior start over this main track.  Stella Moon returns to action after a nearly four month layoff with the lowest price tag of her career on her head.  Stella Moon also projects to be the quickest out of the gate, especially with the scratch of Spiritofthescript.  Unusual Storm is probably better suited for the grass than for dirt; but the drop in class from the state bred non-claiming ranks must be respected.

RACE 7 - (F) OC 40k/N$Y - Eight Furlongs Dirt

A’s

# 3 Sarahline (ML 3-1)
# 5 Pebble Beach Baby (ML 9-2)

B’s

# 1 Guild (ML 15-1)
# 2 Fantastic Mizz (ML 7-2)
# 4 Hennythelovepenny (ML 8-1)
# 6 Margie's Minute (ML 12-1)
# 7 Tiz a Classy Lass (ML 8-1)
# 8 Dissension (ML 5-2)

C's

None

This one looks to be pretty wide open; so everyone gets to be on our tickets.

Sarahline and Pebble Beach Baby are both recent stakes winners, albeit outside the SoCal circuit.  Guild took the Place against more expensive stock two starts back.  Fantastic Mizz just missed by a nose at this class level over this main track the last time that she competed on dirt.

Hennythelovepenny's Beyers show her to be rounding into form, especially if you toss that effort on the off track in July.  Margie's Minute earned her career best Beyer Speed Figure while competing on this main track.

Dissension just missed by a head at this class level over this main track the last time that she competed on dirt.  Tiz a Classy Lass is making her first career start on a fast dirt track; and while Trainer Marty Jones has not been successful with that move, Tiz a Classy Lass remains on our tickets because there's just no way I'm using "ALL minus one" in this race.

RACE 8 - The Contender $75k - Six Furlongs Dirt

A’s

# 4 Bully Pulpit (ML 2-1)

B's

# 5 Mt Veeder (ML 7-5)

C's

# 2 Bistraya (ML 8-1)

Bully Pulpit is the only runner in this field of juveniles with multiple career victories.  Mt Veeder, trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Martin Garcia, was a clear winner in his debut last time out.  Bully Pulpit and Mt Veeder share the honor of having the best last out Beyer Speed Figure in this field.  

Bistraya is still a maiden, but he was up on the pace in the Grade 2 Best Pal last time out; and Bistraya's workouts since indicate that he came out of that contest just fine.

RACE 9 - [S] MSW - Six Furlongs Dirt

A’s

# 12 Wade (ML 5-2)

B's

# 6 Sindys Luck (ML 5-1)

C's

# 3 Stormin Swiss (ML 6-1)

# 5 Extra Lucky (ML 6-1)

# 8 Zip the Monkey (ML 12-1)

# 1 Royal Rebel (ML 20-1) has been scratched.

The lowest Beyer Speed Figure that Wade has earned in his four race career is still better than the best Beyer Speed Figure earned by any other runner in this field.  So why isn't Wade a single on our tickets?  One reason is because Wade is coming back from an extended layoff of over six months; Trainer Peter Euton has not had a winner from that group in his last twenty-plus tries.  In addition, Wade has been the Post Time Favorites in half of his career starts without being able to graduate.  So for those reasons, we're going to spread a bit here.

Sindys Luck moves up in class, but the Beyers that Sindys Luck has been earning fit at this class level.  Stormin Swiss is a first time starter that has been training well over this main track.  Extra Lucky and Zip the Monkey are also first time starters, each with a sire whose progeny tend to do well at first asking, especially among the California state bred ranks.

OK, that's the analysis.  Playing our tickets in Crist fashion, we get:

All A Entries

$1.00 P4: 6,11 with 3,5 with 4 with 12 $4.00

All A Entries with All B Entries

$0.50 P4: 6,11 with ALL with 4,5 with 6,12 $32.00

A's with One C

$0.50 P4: 4 with 3,5 with 4 with 12 $1.00

$0.50 P4: 6,11 with 3,5 with 2 with 12 $2.00

$0.50 P4: 6,11 with 3,5 with 4 with 3,5,8 $6.00

Total: $45.00

Post Time for Race 6 is 7:28 EDT / 4:28 PDT.  Good luck to all.

Peace and Love,

Jimbo