Horse Betting: Today at Los Alamitos, September 24
Post Time 2 p.m.
Race 1 – 5 ½ furlongs, Purse $50,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, 2-year-olds
5 Scatastic – Has shown some ability in his starts without yet graduating; there are 5 FTS in here, including the morning line favorite Malibu Dude.
2 Malibu Dude – FTS gets the services of top jockey Rafael Bejarano; sometimes I just let the trainer and the jockey’s agent handicap the race for me.
Long Shot – 1 Speedin With Eddie
Race 2 – 5 ½ furlongs, Purse $12,000, Claiming $6,250, 3-year-olds and up
4 Expo and Fig – The for sale sign is put up by trainer Philip D’Amato; when he drops a horse from $25K to this level, he fully expects not the take this horse home.
6 Monument – This horse is taking an even bigger drop in class than Expo and Fig; Alfredo Marquez is dropping from $40K last year to this, and he has a small barn.
Long Shot – 9 Financial District
Race 3 – 5 ½ furlongs, Purse $17,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, 3-year-olds and up
1 Simplicityizgenius – Could easily be a trainer Philip D’Amato daily double, though it would not pay a whole lot; this one moves in from post 11 for a much better trip.
3 Papa’s Playboy – Has run 3 much improved efforts since sliding down to this bottom rung; key is his race two back, if repeated, is fast enough to beat these tonight.
Long Shot – 4 Lovely Summer
Race 4 – 5 ½ furlongs, Purse $17,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, 3-year-olds and up
4 Cass in Stone – Still trying to get jockey Kerwin John his first win back in a long time; this may be the most live mount he has gotten so far in SoCal return.
8 I’m Zonin – Has shown good early speed and one of these days Alice he may not stop; of course, the other alternative is to find a no passing zone field full of losers.
Long Shot – 10 The Grumbler
Race 5 – 1 mile, Purse $27,000, Starter allowance $25,000, 3-year-olds and up
2 Ike Walker – Has lots of class if you look backward at his Midwest resume; has been dropped in class in SoCal and found his friends at this comfortable level.
6 Knock Em Flat – Tyler Baze has not ridden much this meet, but his handful of mounts have been live; this one has been competitive, and formful, at this modest class.
Long Shot – 5 Out of Patience
Race 6 – 5 ½ furlongs, Purse $12,000, Claiming $6,250, 3-year-olds and up
7 Mi Agave – Tiny edge in one of the hardest races on the card; was flattered when Surf N Ski won right back, this one could end up being lone early speed.
9 Senator Bob – 10-pound apprentice Cassidy Clerisse has won a couple of races right before our eyes; actually she looks OK on a horse despite her lack of experience.
Long Shot – 1 From Here to There
Race 7 – 1 mile, Purse $19,000, Starter allowance $12,500, 3-year-olds and up
7 Olympic Blue – Rafael Bejarano has not actually won as many races as I thought he would; figured he wouldn’t show in Orange County unless he was on much the best horse.
5 Gold Treasure – The maestro Jerry Hollendorfer hasn’t started many this meet, but they have all been live; he has a good relationship with Martin Garcia back to NoCal.
Long Shot – 8 Planet Sunshine
Race 8 – 1 mile, Purse $17,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up
6 It Girl – Could not win under Rafael Bejarano in last, so why would he win here; suspect she may be a soft chalk, so might actually get overlooked a bit in here.
9 Not Tonight – In the cheaper races, like this, the best spot often times is to be on the lead; sometimes the leader gets brave or finds a no passing zone field.
Long Shot – 10 Judge Randi
Best Bet - 4 Cass in Stone (race 4)
Los Alamitos Sunday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 16/3/$12.80; Long Shots, 8/2/$15.40; Best Bet, 1/1/$4.60
Los Alamitos Totals - 131/33/$225.80; Long Shots, 65/15/$164.20; Best Bets, 8/5/$20.60
SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY - #7 Blarp (3/1) in race 7 at Churchill Downs. For scoring purposes, we'll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Sunday, El Grande Rojo ran out at Churchill Downs. Stats - 142/94/$708.50; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick
