Arham surges to take Los Alamitos Special
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CYPRESS, Calif. - Economics led to a start in Sunday’s $75,000 Los Alamitos Special for Arham, a lightly raced 6-year-old horse.
“The purse isn’t that big, but first place is a lot bigger in a small purse than fifth place in a big purse,” trainer Vladimir Cerin said.
Cerin thought more of Arham’s chances in the Los Alamitos Special than in a much tougher field in the Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes, a $300,000 race 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita on Sept. 30.
Making his stakes debut on Sunday, Arham, who was ridden by Hector Berrios, stalked the pace, took the lead on the turn and cruised clear through the stretch to win by 3 1/2 lengths.
Sent off favored, Arham ($4.40) ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.71 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 87.
“He’s handy and Hector likes him,” Cerin said.
Arham stalked 4-1 It’s My House through an early pace of 23.37 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 46.75 for a half-mile, always racing within a length of the front. Arham led by a half-length in early stretch, an advantage that quickly increased to 2 1/2 lengths with a furlong remaining.
American Admiral (7-5) closed from last on the turn to finish second, a nose in front of 5-1 Salesman. It’s My House tired in the stretch to finish last of four.
Celestial Moon was withdrawn on Friday, while Handy Dandy was scratched early Sunday.
Arham, by Union Rags, races for Holly and David Wilson and has won 5 of 12 starts and earned $261,023. Arham has won two of four starts this year, including an allowance race at six furlongs at Del Mar on Aug. 26, the first time Berrios was aboard.
The Los Alamitos Special was restricted to non-winners of a stakes worth $50,000 or more at a mile.
The winner’s share in the Los Alamitos Special was worth $45,000. The fifth-place finisher in the Awesome Again will receive $6,000.
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