Analysis & Selections By: Dean Keppler @Keppskorner
BEST BET: 3-Spun Beautiful (Race #3)
Race #1: 6-Project Leader has good speed; is drawn outside and goes first off the claim for trainer Jorge Farias who does well with new barn purchases. The gelding comes off a sharp win on the evening card a month ago. 2-Around the Dial was a sharp 8/1 winner at this level and distance two-back. 1-Capture the Sea this consistent 6-year-old gelding has not been out since January, but when last seen racing on an afternoon card was a good second at this 5 ½ furlong trip. He’s trained well for return.
Selections: 6-2-1
Race #2: 1-Horn of Plenty was snagged for $16k in non-threatening 9th place finish August 19 and now shows up for half that purchase price for trainer Steve Knapp. This barn, however, is 5 for 15 (33%) with new barn acquisitions at Los Al. Trainer Jeff Metz has a pair entered here. Of the two 6-Alleva looks like the preferred choice off a sharp win at Del Mar two-back with a strong 74 Beyer. 3-Cajun Treasure should improve today making 2nd start off the claim for barn that’s 8 for 21 (38%) with this claiming angle when Ramirez climbs aboard.
Selections: 1-6-3
Race #3: The lightly raced 3-Spun Beautiful looks like the one to beat for Sadler. The filly goes 2nd time Lasix; turf to dirt and drops in for a tag for the first time. She’s trained extremely well over this track. The speedy 9-Vegas Dream draws outside and makes 3rd start off the bench this afternoon for trainer Eddie Truman. The filly finished 2nd at this level two-back against similar. 2-So Softly removes the blinkers today and is wheeled back off only 5 days’ rest. Despite the barn’s weak 1 for 23 record with horses returning off only 1 to 7 day break, this filly has had modest success at this level.
Selections: 3-9-2
Race #4: 3-Soul Prodigy has good positional speed and has been competitive at this level. In this event that may be enough to find the winner’s circle. First time gelding 6-Resilent obviously had something go awry since he’s not been seen since breaking Maiden at Golden Gate back in February of 2020. He returns for a $6,250 claiming tag today with unknown fitness and soundness questions. 2-Nazare hasn’t shown much of late but gets some class relief today and could wake up at this reduced level.
Selections: 3-6-2
Race #5: 5-My Spy goes first off the claim for trainer Jonathan Wong who comes off a solid Del Mar meet. This lucrative claiming barn is 5 for 11 (45%) with a $4.51 ROI with new barn acquisitions at Los Al. This filly broke her Maiden over this strip two-back. 4-Keep Your Coil has run some of her best races here and closed to grab show spot from far back in most recent try at Del Mar. 1-Galarina was a Maiden winner when last seen sprinting here two-back and wanted no part of a mile when stretching out in most recent effort.
Selections: 5-4-1
Race #6: 5-Irish Wahine moves up off the claim and recent win on synthetic at Golden Gate for trainer Reed Saldana. This conditioner is 3 for 8 (38%) with a $4.23 ROI with new barn purchases at Los Al the past 2 years. 1-Busy Paynter looks like a nice fit here moving inside with speed and we’re willing to forgive last subpar try at Del Mar. This mare is a 7-time winner and should find this reduced level much more to her liking. 2-Malibu Mistress goes turf to dirt and is winless since scoring here last September. She should appreciate today’s substantial class drop, however.
Selections: 5-1-2
Race #7: 4-Dr. Troutman has good early zip; is 2 for 2 over this strip and goes first off the claim for trainer Jonathan Wong. The veteran gelding is reunited with Maldonado who was onboard for his first wire-to-wire win at today’s mile trip here last December. 3-Nolongerahobby should sit a cozy trip behind top pick and has run well enough at this venue in the past. 6-Funkenstein makes first start for new barn today and was a winner from off the pace here three-back. The 4-year-old gelding is most likely to benefit from a pace meltdown this afternoon.
Selections: 4-3-6
Race #8: 2-Geezer ran well in debut try when pressing a solid pace when situated right behind the front runners and was forced to steady just prior to the half mile marker. He finished fifth beaten less than 5 lengths. He should be a strong factor with any normal second-out improvement. 3-Candy’s Wildcat an obvious threat again off back-to-back runner-up finishes at this level in two career starts and now goes 2nd off the claim for trainer Bob Hess. 11-Reign of Speed draws outside; has good positional speed and drops in for a tag for the first time.
Selections: 2-3-11
