Bernier: How I'd play Los Alamitos for Saturday, Dec. 20

Saturday’s card at Los Alamitos Race Course will be highlighted by the Grade I Los Alamitos Futurity – a race which will feature the current favorite for the 2015 Kentucky Derby, Dortmund. Unless you think he’s vulnerable it will be difficult to make any money off that race individually, but there are multi-race wagers which can prove profitable. I will expand upon the late pick four I put together in the video we put out earlier this week, as well as play one race included in the sequence individually.

Late pick four

RACE 6

In a race littered with first-time starters, I went with the three runners that come from logical first-out barns: TALL AND SWEET (3), SOUND CITY (4), and ROADBUG (8). I expect Roadbug to go off favored for Bob Baffert and based on his work tab I see no reason he doesn’t go straight to the front under Martin Garcia. He looms logical and a very likely play on most multi-race tickets.

A: 3,4,8

B: None

C: None

RACE 7

POPALICIOUS (1) hasn’t raced since her victory here at Los Al back in September, but it needs to be noted that horses who have shown prior success at Los Al tend to recreate that form while getting back over the surface. For that reason she’s a must use in some capacity. SWEET MARINI (5) is very logical in this spot for Baffert and Garcia, and based on her running style she should work out a wonderful trip. If things get hot on the front end it could set up greatly for PEARL DE VERE (8) and Joe Talamo. She should be doing her best running late, but unfortunately she will be at the mercy of the pace scenario.

A: 1,5,8

B: 6

C: 3

RACE 8

I believe this race begins and ends with DORTMUND (3). He’s the current favorite for the 2015 Kentucky Derby, and if he performs the way many expect him to on Saturday he will further cement his status. I would imagine he will sit just off NO PROBLEM (2) early on and try to blow the race wide open at the top of the lane. Just in case something odd happens, I will use both FIRING LINE (5) and MR. Z (4) as ‘C’s.

A: 3

B: None

C: 4,5

RACE 9

YOUR BERTRANDO (2) has the benefit of cutting back from a two-turn mile to a six-furlong sprint here in the finale, and at least this horse has shown the ability to pass horses – something the majority of this field has proven incapable of doing. NEVADA TIME (4) looms large and logical here after showing speed in his debut before faltering late. Now, he will drop in class and shed the blinkers for trainer Jeff Mullins, as well as cut back from 6 1/2 furlongs to six here. He appears the runner they will all have to beat.

A: 2,4

B: 8

C: None

The only other horse I will look to play during the course of the day is in the seventh race; although I don’t have VERSYE (3) listed as an ‘A’ in my late pick four, I feel as though this son of Square Eddie will be the controlling speed in this spot with the addition of blinkers. It also never hurts to get a weight break with an apprentice rider taking the mount. He’s 20-1 on the morning line; I will look to play him to win and show at odds of 15-1 or higher.