Analysis & Selections By: Dean Keppler @Keppskorner
BEST BET: 4-Blisterinthesun (Race 6)
Race #1: Selections: 3-6-1
Turf to dirt 3-Chasing Kat adds blinkers on the class drop and turnback this afternoon for conditioner Craig Dollase and looks like a strong gate-to-wire threat with aggressive gate pilot Edwin Maldonado back aboard. 6-Lil’ Boom Boom edged clear late for the maiden victory off the nine-month freshening while earning the field’s best last-out main track Beyer. The daughter of Stay Thirsty figures to get a favorable stalking trip from today’s outside post, facing winners. 1-Disposition was another sharp maiden winner off the 10-month layoff on June 12 and now goes first off the claim for trainer Peter Miller. The 4-year-old filly returned with a solid four-furlong drill on June 26 and looks appropriately placed for her first crack against winners.
Race #2: Selections: 2-6-4
2-Auditory has won two straight by a combined 11 ½ lengths and looks like a short-priced favorite to win again this afternoon. The 4-year-old daughter of Audible returned to fire a “best of 34” bullet four-furlong drill on June 19, indicating she remains razor sharp. 6-Uffda returned to Los Al with a dominating 8-length score on June 21 and now goes first off the claim for new conditioner, Jorge Farias. This barn has solid stats with new acquisitions, and a repeat is well within reach for a filly that is a two-time winner over this racetrack. 4-Rock N Roll Song returns to the Los Al afternoon course after spending the majority of the past year racing under the lights.
Race #3: Selections: 1-4-6
The Grade 2-placed 1-Vlahos is unproven over this racetrack but has good gate speed, the rail draw, and figures to be sent along by Maldonado for the early lead. The Kantharos 4-year-old is the class of this field. 4-Nesso’s Lastharrah returns off a 10-month freshening for new conditioner Peter Eurton and has trained steadily for today’s return to action. The son of Sharp Azteca boasts a solid 4-4-1 record from 11 career tries and won three of four on grass before being sidelined. Turf to dirt 6-See Through It is a Los Al course specialist (9-5-1-3) that has posted some of the higher main track Beyers in this field. The veteran 8-year-old gelding is expected to make up large chunks of ground in the late stages.
Race #4: Selections: 2-6-3
The Michael McCarthy-trained 2-Auratium is unproven on dirt but slashes his claiming tag in half after back-to-back subpar tries to start the year. The 4-year-old filly figures for an upfront pressing trip. 6-Mrazek’s Old Dream broke through the maiden ranks in career try number 10 on June 6 and projects to be on or close to the lead this afternoon, facing winners. A repeat is not without reach as she faces a suspect group. 3-Leopardess (GB) has never tried dirt in 18 starts but drops to a career-low claiming tag today for conditioner Bob Hess while making her second start off the bench. She has been winless since May 2023, however.
Race #5: Selections: 6-3-2
6-Howbeit ran six points above par for this class level in a recent runner-up finish over the track last week. This gritty 8-year-old is a 13-time winner and has never been worse than first or second in three tries over this course. He stretches back out to his preferred 6 ½-furlong trip. The 10-time winning veteran, 9-year-old gelding 3-Windribbon, drops in for a career-low claiming tag today off a third-place effort over this course on June 28. 2-The Big Cheeseola drops another notch off a speed and fade when dueling on the front end on June 27 and is reunited with winning rider Tyler Baze. The gelding was a gate-to-wire winner over this course at the close of last year.
Race #6: Selections: 4-2-8
4-Blissterinthesun is a 10-start maiden from the Phil D’Amato barn that drops to a career-low $12,500 tag today off the mini-freshening. The 4-year-old filly has trained sharply over the local footing and figures to get a favorable upfront pressing trip. 2-Tom’s Star exits a troubled trip fifth, facing slightly better in his most recent try over this racetrack, and is eligible to move forward today, making his second try off the bench. 8-Mia Mac has never gone this far but exits back-to-back runner-up tries over the Los Al evening program.
Race #7: Selections: 6-4-7
6-Ya’ll Come flashed good early zip with a wide trip in an encouraging, well-backed June 1 debut for conditioner Dean Pederson and figures to be tough this afternoon with any normal second-out progression. 4-Day At the Track is one of two 3-year-olds from the Ron Ellis barn. This son of Clubhouse Ride is a logical fit off his two most recent main track sprint tries over at Santa Anita, where he ran competitive speed figures for this class level. A recent three-furlong blowout bullet drill in sub :36 on July 2 catches the eye. 7-Tee N Off exits the same race as the top choice when flashing speed and tiring to fifth in his debut, and is likely to move forward off that try for a barn that’s had an excellent meet.
Race #8: Selections 7-1-2
The lightly raced 7-Hurricane Layla goes turf to dirt in career start number three and was a solid 4 ½-length debut winner two back on dirt. The 3-year-old daughter of I’ll Have Another should find herself on or close to the lead this afternoon on the class drop. Recent maiden winner 1-Darlin Tami has hit the board in six of seven career tries and comes off a career-best Beyer (70). Her recent three-furlong blowout drill on July 2 indicates she is feeling good right now. She figures to be hustled along from the rail for an early position. 2-A Fleet Ride goes turf to dirt on the class drop for trainer Ryan Hanson, exiting a non-threatening sixth behind Hurricane Layla in her most recent start. This filly is a late threat over a course she might find favorable.
Race #9: Selections 2-7-3
2-Fly Zapper flashed good speed before settling for third in his first try over the bigger Los Al layout on June 21 and looks to have found a field where he can clear early and perhaps keep going in the Sunday nightcap. 7-Fast Service has finished second in three consecutive races for trainer Tim McCanna and is a logical threat again at this $6,250 claiming level, exiting the same race as the top choice. 3-Navy Jack shortens up on the quick turnaround for trainer Peter Miller, who is 3 for 6 (50%) with a $3.53 ROI with horses returning 1-7 days at Los Al. 6-Uplift should be able to work out a better trip with today’s post after a wide journey in the aforementioned June 21 event.
