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Analysis & Selections By: Dean Keppler @Keppskorner

BEST BET: 4-Lobdell Lake (Race 3)

Race #1: Selections: 6-5-2

6-Scatalotadingdong flashed improved speed when switched to dirt in career try number two for trainer Leonard Powell, and looks quick enough to potentially clear this field this afternoon for the all-important third start. 5-Cruise Home rallied sharply for third while having to break from the tricky rail on debut Oct. 4, and should appreciate the stretch-out this afternoon for conditioner Dean Pederson. The 2-year-old gelding is by multiple G2 winner Catalina Cruiser, who gets an above-average 17% with dirt route runners. 2-Bandolero moves back to dirt on the barn change and three-month freshening and has seen improvement Beyer-wise in each subsequent start.

Race #2: Selections: 3-6-7

The veteran 7-year-old gelding 3-J T’s Watch is a nine-time winner and exits a solid closing third at 38-1 when facing similar at Del Mar on Nov. 9. He is 1-for-2 over the Los Al afternoon layout, and jockey Edgar Payeras has done well on these mini-afternoon Thoroughbred meets. Blinkers off 6-Leyas Candy goes second off the claim for conditioner Andy Harris and sports the field’s best last-out main track Beyer (77) with a recent runner-up effort on Oct. 19. The gelding is 0-for-10 this year but proven over this course and distance. 7-Taishan returns after an extended 11-month hiatus for Baltas, but has been training steadily for his return to action, and this barn is 3-for-5 (80%) with a lofty $7.32 ROI with horses returning off >180 days at Los Al the past four years. The veteran 8-year-old is a must-include for vertical exotic players.

Race #3: Selections: 4-3-5

4-Lobdell Lake finished a game second over this course and distance two-back versus this N2L $6,250 level and switches to Kimura this afternoon. The 5-year-old gelding appears to be a serious gate-to-wire threat with a clean break. 3-Smiling Capote adds blinkers this afternoon and makes his second try at this reduced level for trainer Martin Valenzuela. The sophomore gelding was a maiden-breaking winner over this course and distance this past July. 5-Spiritist is 1-for-32 lifetime, but takes a sizable class drop today and has run some of the fastest Bayers in the field.

Race #4: Selections: 4-7-6

4-Maniatic (Ire) steps up in class off the claim and sharp Nov. 9 score when switched to dirt for a barn that is 4 for 10 (40%) with a positive ROI with recent acquisitions at Los Al the past three years. He’s likely to find this course favorable and can repeat for the new barn. 7-Joint Venture has won two of his last three starts and just missed by a nose in his most recent effort at Del Mar on Nov. 16 when facing three of today’s returning rivals. The 5-year-old gelding has good early zip or the versatility to sit and pounce, and was a winner over this one-mile distance over this strip two back. The other Papaprodromou runner, 6-Clouseau, is unproven over this course but is a logical contender, having posted the field’s best last-out dirt Beyer (85) when facing better on Halloween at Del Mar and rounding out the superfecta. The late-closing 5-year-old is an 8-time winner and is reunited with veteran Hall of Famer Kent Desormeaux.

Race #5: Selections: 8-6-7

8-Not My Rodeo did little running over the evening course when returning off a 11-month layoff on Nov. 22 when attracting decent tote support, but stretches out today making his initial try over the bigger afternoon layout, and showed good life in his a.m. drills prior to his last start–a bullet “best of 28” four furlongs in sub :47 on Nov. 13. 6-Got Your Six was a winner over the evening course two-back and then faltered as the betting choice in his most recent try when last seen back in late June. The 5-year-old gelding has trained well enough off the five-month layoff for conditioner Val Brinkerhoff and has enough early zip to be involved from the get-go in a weak lineup. 7-Naval Harbor did not hit the board in both tries over this afternoon course but exits an OK fourth (beaten two lengths) at this level on Nov. 22, going 1,000 yards under the lights.

Race #6: Selections: 8-7-1

One of two 3-year-old fillies in this field, the lightly raced 8-Tina Turner has won two of three career tries for Knapp and drops out of the seven-furlong Betty Grable S. into this softer spot this afternoon on the turnback and gets a cozy outside draw. The daughter of Grazen should prove tough to overhaul, meeting softer after showing solid ability thus far. The other 3-year-old is recent maiden winner, 7-Pavel’s Etoile, who has run well in both turf sprint tries this year and may find this dirt track to her liking. She makes her third start of the form cycle today, and there may be room for further improvement, despite meeting winners for the first time. 1-Clubhouse Bride has not been seen since being claimed back on Sept. 13 for trainer Andy Mathis, but is a perfect 2-for-2 over this course and distance. This barn has solid stats with new barn purchases, but she’ll need to negotiate the tricky rail draw.

Race #7: Selections: 5-4-7

The Bob Baffert-trained 5-Voldemort is a pricey $700k son of Good Magic who showed solid ability at the start of the 2025 season and returns this afternoon off a nearly 11-month layoff. This jockey-trainer combo is 4-for-4 with Los Al returnees >180 days since their last start over the past three years, with a $3.35 ROI. The 3-year-old colt should be long gone at short odds. The multiple graded stakes-placed 4-For All Mankind was walked off the course after a cut to his left hind hoof when returning off a two-month freshening for Sadler on Oct. 26 and is eligible to move forward in that toss-out try. The Into Mischief 6-year-old has run some of the fastest dirt sprint Beyers in this field if he can rekindle that old form. 7-Manitowish drops in class after a dull effort off the three-month break at Santa Anita on Oct. 26, but is one of the few in here that is proven over the afternoon layout. The 7-year-old gelding is also 3-for-8 going 6 ½ furlongs.

Race #8: Selections: 3-8-5-4

Three-for-four over this afternoon course, 3-Discrepancy looks tough to play against at short odds in the Friday nightcap, making his second start off the mini-freshening for Hollendorfer. The 4-year-old filly kicked away to an impressive five-length romp two-back over this strip, going 5 ½ furlongs, and is likely to return to his winning ways on the class drop. The main danger appears to be 8-Miracle Ball, who has good speed from today’s outside draw, makes her second try off the Mendoza claim, and is a perfect 2-for-2 over this racetrack. A runner-up to Miracle Ball in last, 5-Big Celebration has shown the ability to sit and finish well, which should serve her well in this spot, shortening up a furlong for trainer Jeff Mullins. The 5-year-old daughter of Mr. Big is making her second try off the layoff today and is eligible to move forward. 4-Ro Town brings 1,000-yard Los Al evening speed off a pair of sharp efforts and has been able to stretch out and win at this distance in the past. She is dangerous if able to break cleanly and get some early separation.