Analysis & Selections By: Dean Keppler @Keppskorner
BEST BET: 6-Island Life (Race 3)
Race #1: 5-Indulge is unproven over this course but comes off a solid win going 7 furlongs despite a bad stumble out of the gate. This gelding has 5 works since that winning effort for Mandella who comes off a strong SA meet. 1-Durante goes turf to dirt on the turnback and makes 3rd start of his form cycle this afternoon. This gelding has good speed from the rail and does have a 2nd and 3rd place finish over this strip going a mile. 2-Rifey has not been out in over a year for conditioner Gary Stute but has trained sharply for today’s return to action and was successful in lone try over the course. This barn can get one ready to fire off the bench.
Selections: 5-1-2
Race #2: 2-Indy’s Star stretches out with good early zip off the claim for trainer Leonard Powell and finished behind repeat next-out winner Bella Renella in most recent effort on June 2. 5-Lucy L ships in here in top form for new barn off the $12,500 recent purchase and returns protected. These are all positive signs. However, the only caveat is that this filly’s two prior tries over this strip were subpar efforts. 1-Vandalia makes only second career start on dirt but is eligible to move forward today making her 2nd start off the Knapp claim. This barn is 5 for 20 (25%) with a $3.23 ROI at Los Al with this claiming angle.
Selections: 2-5-1
Race #3: 6-Island Life makes 3rd start off the bench today and was closing strongly when just missing the show spot in recent 1,000-yard evening allowance try on June 10 when facing both Chollima and Aunt Opal. This 5-year-old mare galloped out strongly in that effort and has been competitive going this longer 5 1/2-furlong trip. 4-Talkative Girl is a multiple winner over the track and distance and drops in class making 2nd start off the Steve Knapp claim. This filly figures to be tough at this reduced level. 1-Chollima has been successfully gathering up checks going 1,000 yards on the evening program in recent starts but has also had prior success over the bigger afternoon layout.
Selections: 6-4-1
Race #4: 4-Big Hat Willie is a Maiden facing winners but comes off a good 2nd on May 20 going this 6 ½-furlong trip earning a competitive figure for this level and retains hot jockey Antonio Fresu who had 4 winners closing weekend at Santa Anita. 2-The Bullion Bomber (Ire) is unproven on dirt but ships in off back-to-back 2nd place finishes at Golden Gate for trainer Peter Eurton and projects to be on the lead against this group. 6-Tahoe Secrets has been freshened for good layoff barn and broke Maiden over this course last July with a field’s best (77) Beyer.
Selections: 4-2-6
Race #5: 1-Sheza Girly Girl was a beaten favorite 3rd in most recent start at Santa Anita but now makes first start for the Lorenzo Ruis barn. This conditioner has won with 3 of his last 4 claims at Los Al. 2-Big Novel has not been out in six months but has trained well over the local strip for Sadler and was stakes placed in lone try over this strip back in December of 2021. 4-Fried Asparagus is unproven over this course but makes 3rd start off the bench this afternoon with an improving Beyer pattern.
Selections: 1-2-4
Race #6: 8-Quick Intro is only 2 for 18 lifetime but comes off a sharp evening score on May 20 on the class drop going 1,000 yards and has been competitive going 5 ½ and 6 furlongs in prior efforts. 7-Who’s Candy goes turf to dirt on the huge class plunge for trainer Steve Knapp and is a logical fit to wake up here in a big way if right. 3-Scratchy Apache has run well over this bigger afternoon strip registering a win and second place finish from 3 starts.
Selections: 8-7-3
Race #7: First time starter 5-Rahm is one of two Peter Miller-trained geldings lined up in here. This 3-year-old is by Kantharos who gets 13% with his debuting prodigy and comes in here off some average works. However, this barn is a solid 4 for 10 (40%) with a $3.88 ROI with Maiden Claiming first time starters at Los Al so there’s a good chance he’ll come out running. He’s worth a stab at first asking versus suspect group. His stablemate 7-Brazen Bull removes the blinkers making his 3rd career start off back-to-back 4th place finishes and has flashed speed in both starts. 3-Burton Way drops in for a first time tag off extended layoff but has worked steadily for his return try.
Selections: 5-7-3
Race #8: 1-Whiskey My God (Arg) has speed and the rail and comes off back-to-back sharp tries on the evening card. This 6-year-old gelding has 10 wins from 20 dirt starts; is proven on the afternoon layout and makes his 3rd start off the bench this afternoon. 6-Facts Matter stretches out an additional furlong today but is a reclaim by conditioner Lorenzo Ruiz and this 11-time winner is eligible to move forward in this spot. 3-Around the Dial is a multiple winner over the track and distance; removes the blinkers today and comes into this event off some solid evening form for top barn.
Selections: 1-6-3
