Today at Los Alamitos: Sept. 7, 2014

TODAY AT LOS ALAMITOS by Richard Eng

Post Time 2 p.m.

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

3 Harlington Night - Taking a steep class drop to face the slowest group of his life; need not be much to boss these around.

4 Monastic - Another taking a big class drop; trainer Chuck Treece has won a lot of races at Los Alamitos.

Long Shot - 2 Tiz Futurity

Race 2 - 1 mile, Purse $17,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

7 Italian Harmony - Dead late closer should like the easier test here versus two prior Del Mar starts; Elvis Trujillo has looked good.

5 Swiss Perfection - Mike Harrington takes the blinkers off for this; Drayden Van Dyke stays busy with his remaining apprentice time.

Long Shot - 3 Wildly Excessive

Race 3 - 6 furlongs, Purse $14,000, Claiming $8,000, 3-year-olds and up

4 This Cat’s Awesome - More class droppers, this one from Gary Sherluck; won’t find an easier spot in SoCal than this.

5 Wholly Hughes - His race two back, if repeated, is fast enough to upset these; Aaron Gryder gets the call for Keith Desormeaux.

Long Shot - 3 Aerial Artist

Race 4 - 6 1/2 furlongs, Purse $17,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

8 Ava’s Ballet - Really woke up with a nice effort last time out; Joe Steiner doesn’t ride many live ones, so he better get the job done.

1 Rosa Divina - The rail is not the best spot on this racetrack; she ran like a short horse last time off a year hiatus.

Long Shot - 2 Galehorn

Race 5 - 5 1/2 furlongs, Purse $19,000, Maiden claiming $30,000, Fillies, 2-year-olds

9 Cora Elizabeth - William Antongeorgi is a very underrated jockey; if the horse can go, I don’t have a problem betting on him.

4 Southern Echo - Big rider switch for this second career start; class drop and improvement make her very dangerous.

Long Shot - 1 Zippinaroundtown

Race 6 - 6 furlongs, Purse $27,000, Starter allowance $25,000, 3-year-olds and up

6 Red N Black Attack - Claimed by Doug O’Neill and well spotted to perform; he was the main guy to get Elvis Trujillo to SoCal.

2 Fighting On - Claimed by Gary Sherluck and spotted nicely to win; he had a quiet Del Mar, saving his bullets for this easier meet.

Long Shot - 7 Great Friends Rule

Race 7 - 1 mile, Purse $46,000, Optional claiming $40,000, 3-year-olds and up

8 Valley Cat - Rafael Bejarano won’t ride many at Los Alamitos; but when he shows up it’s only to ride the live ones.

1 Demonic - Ran like a short horse in last off a 9-month hiatus; has some back races fast enough to defeat these.

Long Shot - 4 Derringer

Race 8 - 6 furlongs, $75,000 Orange County, Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

2 Donghardtimeagain - The last two races have been downright ugly; but her race three back was a sharp win right here.

1 Tribal Gal - Last seen winning a nice stakes at Pleasanton; has speed and figures to use it from the rail post.

Long Shot - 3 Maker Or Breaker

Race 9 - 5 furlongs, Purse $17,000, Maiden claiming $20,000, 3-year-olds and up

8 Coyotero - Showed more speed last time than he did in his debut; these are much easier than he faced at Del Mar and Santa Anita.

10 El Desperado - Been away a full year; taking the biggest class drop in racing from MSW to maiden claiming.

Long Shot - 6 Takeit Tothe Limit

Best Bet - 3 Harlington Night (race 1)

Los Alamitos Saturday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 17/4/$25.00; Long Shots, 7/2/$29.00; Best Bet, 1/0/$0

Los Alamitos Totals - 32/10/$67.40; Long Shots, 14/2/$29.00; Best Bets, 2/1/$3.60

SIMULCAST PLAY OF THE DAY - #4 Za Approval (9/5) in race 4 at Belmont Park. For scoring purposes, we’ll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Saturday, Vicar’s in Trouble won at Louisiana Downs paying $4.60 to win, $3.60 to place and $2.60 to show. Stats - 139/83/$796.10; Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick