Horse racing: Today at Los Alamitos, Dec. 21

Post Time 12:30 p.m.

Race 1 - 1 mile, Purse $17,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, 3-year-olds and up

3 Armensky - Broke thru with a career best race in last; if he can repeat the race he’ll beat these.

1 Mikey T - Been away a year, but ran faster races back when; is well spotted in a very slow group.

Long Shot - 4 Preordained

Race 2 - 5 furlongs, Purse $14,000, Claiming $8,000, 3-year-olds and up

3 Changing Karma - Has run a lot of good races at Los Alamitos, albeit most in cheaper company; speed to be forwardly placed.

6 Mary Helen’s Storm - Another who has a positive resume at Los Alamitos; this is one of the hardest races on the card.

Long Shot - 9 Mason B

Race 3 - 1 mile, Purse $21,000, Starter allowance $16,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

5 Silk in Silver - Speedball retains the services of Rafael Bejarano; key will be how slow she can go early.

6 Up the Alley - Broke thru with a big win last out over tougher at Del Mar; repeat race can get the job done here.

Long Shot - 1 Papaslilprincess

Race 4 - 1 mile, Purse $17,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, 3-year-olds and up

6 Burning - Peter Miller hasn’t put his best foot forward at Los Alamitos; might get off the duck with this guy.

7 Fast Mast - The fact that he is 3/1 in here shows how slow this group is; gets a better post under Drayden Van Dyke.

Long Shot - 9 Dickery Do

Race 5 - 6 furlongs, Purse $42,000, Maiden special weights, Cal-breds, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

1 Radiant Journey - Good debut when slow early, fast late to lose less than a length; Philip D’Amato adding blinkers on today.

3 No Comparison - Took a lot of betting in her career debut; was involved with Radiant Journey last time out.

Long Shot - 7 Seattle Salt

Race 6 - 1 mile, Purse $18,000, Claiming $12,500, 3-year-olds and up

6 Gilligan - Tiny edge in a very difficult heat; like the huge rider switch to Rafael Bejarano for the money shot.

8 Shun - Tepid morning line chalk in a wide open affair; gutsy win in last that must be repeated.

Long Shot - 9 Dress Code

Race 7 - 6 furlongs, Purse $42,000, Maiden special weights, 2-year-olds

6 Pocketball - Adam Kitchingman may have gotten away with one; protected today but may be fast enough to outsprint these.

3 Eckersley - May be named after the great A’s reliever Dennis; been working well for debut, see the tote board action on him.

Long Shot - 10 Big Hat Charlie

Race 8 - 6 furlongs, Purse $46,000, Optional claiming $40,000, 3-year-olds and up

3 Celebrity Status - Gets class relief from the Cary Grant for this easier spot; his race two back is the one he needs to repeat.

4 Conscience - Regressed in last after a big MSW win two back; could have been facing winners for the first time, a big class rise.

Long Shot - 1 Reno Rebel

Race 9 - 6 furlongs, Purse $17,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

11 Flyin for a Livin - Taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming; Rafael Bejarano for the riding title.

4 Council Talk - Moved forward with a decent second last time out; hopefully she is moving in the right direction for Paula Capestro.

Long Shot - 12 Wine Country Wanda

Best Bet - 11 Flyin for a Livin (race 9)

Los Alamitos Saturday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 18/7/$29.80; Long Shots, 9/0/$0; Best Bet, 1/1/$3.20

Los Alamitos Totals - 177/55/$273.40; Long Shots, 85/6/$71.40; Best Bets, 11/6/$19.20

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY - #6 Whyalwaysme (3/1) in race 1 at Fair Grounds. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Saturday, Party Now ran second at Gulfstream Park paying $4.20 to place and $2.60 to show. Stats - 197/117/$1,079.80; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick