Middle posts perform well, Semper Fortis among horses to watch at Los Alamitos
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December 9th, 2015
LOS ALAMITOS NOTEBOOK
There was no graded racing during the opening weekend at Los Alamitos.
Track Stats
From a total of 34 races at the Southern California racetrack during the past week, favorites won at a 32 percent clip and the top two betting choices combined for 70 percent of the wins. Seven races were won in wire-to-wire fashion (21 percent).
Speed was best on the main oval on Sunday when a trio of winners led throughout -- only four others did so during the first three days of the racing week. Of the seven wire-to-wire wins, four occurred in route attempts.
Being a few paths off the rail seems best, even with the results on Sunday. From Thursday-through-Saturday, stalkers and closers dominated and horses breaking from posts 4-6 accounted for 17 of the 25 winners (68 percent).
In addition, not a single winner broke from the rail until Sunday, when four achieved success breaking from the innermost post position.
Meet Totals
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Races: |
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34 |
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Dirt: |
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34 |
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Favorites: |
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11 (32%) |
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2nd Choices: |
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13 (70%) |
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Dirt Wire: |
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7 (21%) |
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|
|
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HORSES TO WATCH
Thursday (12/3)
3RD – GOLDRUSHCAT (Broken Vow) showed speed from the rail and finished a brave second in her debut offering for trainer Mark Glatt. The two-year-old filly was very game in coming back after being confronted in the lane, and we think she will graduate before long with seasoning.
5TH – Peter Miller’s ROCKANTHAROS (Kantharos) dueled to late stretch and finished a nice third in her first outing. The two-year-old filly went off a nice price in a fairly solid field and looms large in her subsequent outing with a forward move.
7TH – UNFORGETTABLE U (Tale of the Cat) took the lead approaching the turn for home and dominated her foes to the wire, posting a 9 ½-length tally. The Richard Baltas trainee clocked six panels in a wicked 1:08 3/5 and looks like a nice prospect going forward.
Friday (12/4)
6TH – GATO DOLCE (Candy Ride) didn’t impact the winner but rallied for a clear second-place finish in his second career outing for Richard Mandella. The juvenile colt showed improvement off his latest and appears headed in the right direction.
Saturday (12/5)
1ST – BIJOUX (Broken Vow) handled the dirt well after making her five attempts on the lawn and may have found a new home for trainer John Sadler. The four-year-old filly was not claimed out of the maiden tally and could be a contender right back with winners.
2ND – SEMPER FORTIS (Distorted Humor) returns to the list after a big late run produced an allowance win, his second straight. The two-year-old colt proved capable of handling two turns and remains an intriguing prospect with ability.
5TH – LAOBAN (Uncle Mo) showed marked improvement in the maiden test for Eric Guillot, opening a huge lead late only to be run down in the closing stages. The juvenile colt looks like a big contender in his comeback with an even slight move forward.
Sunday (12/6)
3RD – We liked KELBAKER (Tiz Wonderful) in her second lifetime run and the sophomore filly led throughout in a nice tally for trainer Peter Miller. The winner ran a solid time for the level and could continue to show more off the confidence booster.
5TH – A change in tactics paid off for the Mark Glatt-trained JONNY’S CHOICE (Unusual Heat), who went last-to-first with a strong late move beneath Santiago Gonzalez. The six-year-old gelding likes it here and we love the versatility he showed in this heat.
9TH – PURSUIT (Mizzen Mast) was never getting to the winner but did come from far back to be a clear second, and the Peter Eurton pupil should improve off the performance. The two-year-old colt handled two turns well in his debut for a barn that’s better with experienced horses.
A Look Ahead
The $300,000 Starlet S. (G1) for two-year-old fillies tops Saturday’s action at Los Alamitos.
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