Horse Racing: Today at Los Alamitos, December 18

Post Time 12:30 p.m.

Race 1 - 6 furlongs, Purse $18,000, Claiming $12,500, 3-year-olds

1 Echo Zulu - May have been overmatched in last in first start off the claim by Adam Kitchingman; is properly placed tonight.

4 Brackendale - Speedball figures to have one way of going; suspect will provide the target for closer in turning for home.

Long Shot - 2 Papa’s Paisley

Race 2 - 6 furlongs, Purse $21,000, Starter allowance $16,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

1 Faith Proof - Has won 3 races in a row despite being claimed in two of them; shows she doesn’t mind which shed row she eats out of.

5 Warren’s Gussie - Winner last out and seemingly on an improving pattern; repeat race is good enough to beat these too.

Long Shot - 4 Rosewhitenblue

Race 3 - 6 furlongs, Purse $17,000, Claiming $16,000, 3-year-olds and up

6 Mosso - Don’t mind the parking lot post in such a tiny field; looks best in an ugly looking field.

3 Luck Lasts - Speedball ships down from NoCal to face these; has some positive dirt experience from the NoCal fair circuit.

Long Shot - 5 Just Call Me Al

Race 4 - 6 furlongs, Purse $15,000, Claiming $8,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

6 Forbidden City - Notice how NoCal horses are shipping down to Los Alamitos for this meet; they fit class wise and purses are higher.

5 Smil’n From Above - Was closing well at high odds in last; fits well again but must have some pace to chase.

Long Shot - 1 It’s Aine

Race 5 - 1 mile, Purse $17,000, Claiming $12,500, 3-year-olds and up

1 Accelerant - Claimed by Adam Kitchingman and wheeled right back; should be able to save every inch of ground throughout.

4 Unmatched Force - Speedball may have an easy go of it, depending on what Atascaderan does; has a reliable dirt resume too.

Long Shot - 3 Smart Ellis

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

4 Tough Sunday - Green, but impressive debut, slow early but fast late; also moves inside from parking lot post 12 in debut.

2 Price of Glory - Looked like a different animal in last, first time with blinkers on; speedball has one way of going.

Long Shot - 6 Dr. Suer

Race 7 - 1 mile, Purse $17,000, Claiming $12,500, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

1 Acute - Another choice of a rail horse going one mile; key for me is the ground saved with a short run to the first turn.

3 Tiz But a Dream - Has been away since graduating in May; like when a horse wins a race while running a slower Beyer speed figure.

Long Shot - 4 Gelila

Race 8 - 1 mile, Purse $14,000, Claiming $8,000, 3-year-olds and up

6 Warren’s Tyler S. - Has a very good dirt resume so may be a sleeper in here; has tactical speed to sit a decent trip.

3 Go Black Tie - Has been terrible since claimed by Bob Hess for $25K; waves the white flag of surrender in this cheap spot.

Long Shot - 5 Cole Cole

Best Bet - 1 Faith Proof (race 2)

Los Alamitos Sunday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 16/4/$19.40; Long Shots, 9/1/$5.60; Best Bet, 1/1/$3.80

Los Alamitos Totals - 127/38/$194.40; Long Shots, 60/4/$59.40; Best Bets, 8/4/$13.00

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY - #1 More Than a Party (3/1) in race 9 at Gulfstream Park. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Sunday, Bluegrass Sapphire ran out at Fair Grounds. Stats - 194/114/$1,057.90; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick