Analysis & Selections By: Dean Keppler @Keppskorner
BEST BET: 2-Dazzle Comm (Race 4)
Race #1: Selections: 1-6-3
Not the easiest $20k claimer to decipher, kicking off the pick five for Day 1 of the Los Al Thoroughbred meet, which runs through Sunday, July 5. Turf to dirt 1-Naftis has solid early zip from the rail and skipped away to a game gate-to-wire win at this one-mile trip against softer two back. The 5-year-old gelding has a runner-up finish from two local tries over this course. 6-Habeas jumps up in class today, exiting a sharp second on May 15 and has proven he likes this layout for trainer Brian Koriner. 3-Shortman passed a few tired rivals at long odds in his first start off an eight-month layoff on May 1 and now returns to the Los Al afternoon layout where he’s done his best work (14-4-2-4).
Race #2: Selections: 3-4-2
3-Kid Dynasty was overmatched when facing winners on April 18, but now drops back down to a more realistic level today, for the third start of the 2026 campaign. The Tim Yakteen-trained 4-year-old projects to get a favorable upfront-pressing trip with Kimura. First off the claim, 4-Next Trick has hit the board in all eight lifetime tries and exits a solid beaten-favorite runner-up effort on May 31. Trainer Jesus Uranga is 3-for-10 (30%) with a positive ROI with new acquisitions at Los Al the past five years. 2-Last Call Paul is 2-for-35 but has several underneath finishes on the resume and shortens back up to a sprint today over a racetrack where he has had some mild success.
Race #3: Selections: 6-4-7
The 1-for-20 6-Fincairn is quick enough to clear this field and drops in for a career-low claiming tag. This looks like a good spot for the gelding to get back on track for the low-profile barn. 4-Grey Power exits three consecutive third-place finishes on the evening program and now goes first off the Sergio Morfin claim. 7-Sir Nano has only one prior try over this bigger afternoon layout back in 2024, but has been facing considerably better in recent months under the lights and should fall into a favorable stalking role with the outside draw.
Race #4: Selections: 2-5-6
2-Dazzle Comm finished an even fifth with his May 10 turf sprint debut and now moves to the main track on the class drop for start number two. The 3-year-old gelded son of Forest Command adds blinkers, retains Kimura, and is likely to move forward today while showing improved gate speed. A pair of runners have already returned to win from that event. 5-Charmz Away is a 17-start Maiden but has several underneath finishes to his credit and has posted sprint dirt speed figures that make him a win candidate against this suspect group. 6-Still Bulletproof finished a dull tenth of eleven in his grass-sprint return try on May 25, but is now back on dirt, second try off the seven-month freshening, and back in for the $50k tag, where he showed some life last fall.
Race #5: Selections: 3-4-7
3-Rabeeba is a pricey $750k Curlin daughter debuting for team Baffert off a solid work tab. This top barn is 9-for-24 (38%) with sprint firsters over this afternoon layout the past five years, and she’s expected to come out firing, with jockey Ricky Gonzalez inheriting the mount. 4-Helen’s Time (by Not This Time) has trained swiftly over the local course, and this barn is more than capable of winning at first-asking. 7-Kinzlee’scharisma moves back to dirt, has solid early zip, and gets a good post to help parlay her natural speed into a good early position.
Race #6: Selections: 2-3-1
2-Cowboy Mike shortens back up to a sprint off the Steve Miyadi May 23 claim, and this gelding does own one blowout win over the course, albeit back in 2023. Jockey Julien Leparoux picks up the mount after recently announcing he’s moving his tack to Southern California for the summer. 3-Concord Bridge goes turf to dirt for the third start of the form cycle this afternoon for conditioner Ron Ellis. This 5-year-old has run his best races on dirt and has trained sharply over the Santa Anita main track since mid-May. 1-Mr. Disrespectful was trounced in his last pair and was eased up after a brutal trip in his most recent try June 5 for trainer Craig Dollase. This 5-time winning gelding has run well in both starts over this layout, however, and could spring back to life with a good break and Ayuso back for the return mount.
Race #7: Selections: 9-8-4
9-Falabella has been on a tear facing low-level claimers since last March with three wins, five seconds and a third in her last nine starts. The 5-year-old mare has good speed to coincide with her outside draw and just missed when first off the claim against three of today’s returning rivals on May 24. The 10-time winner 8-Rock N Roll Song finished third behind the top choice in last but has enough tactical early foot to fall into a favorable stalking trip with the 2025 Thoroughbred meet-leading rider Edgar Payeras back for the return mount. He’s done well when matched up on this mare. 4-Elegant Sway returns off a five-month freshening for a new barn and career-low claiming tag. The 6-year-old has a win and second from three tries over the afternoon layout and has worked well for her new connections.
Race #8: Selections: 9-10-2
The Peter Miller-trained 9-Watch Over Us is one of two sophomore filly firsters in the field, and she’s by Army Mule, who gets a strong 16-for-63 (25%) with 3-year-old & up debuting prodigy. This barn is 4-for-13 (31%) with a $2.58 ROI with maiden claiming firsters at Los Al the past five years. She need not have to be much to compete in the Friday afternoon nightcap. 10-Cammy’s Girl rallied for the show spot when dropped to this level at Santa Anita on May 16, earning the field’s best last-out Beyer (56), and has worked solidly three times at San Luis Rey since that last effort. This filly looks like the horse to beat with Kimura. 2-Salty Sis drops again after a disappointing try at Santa Anita on May 25, but has three local drills over the course and switches to Payeras. Improvement likely in a suspect field.
