Brad Free's Los Alamitos horses to watch from week of June 25-27, 2021
SQUARE ROOT
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Last race: June 26, 1st
Finish: 3rd by 3 1/4
Beyer: 57
Maiden-claiming sprint comebacker set pace, drifted out through lane, rider applied left-handed reminders despite drifting out, tired. Fits versus maiden-20 foes, if he runs straight.
RED PANTY NIGHT
Trainer: Kristin Mulhall
Last race: June 26, 5th
Finish: 3rd by 2 1/4
Beyer: 52
Debut maiden-claiming sprinter lost considerable ground while wide, loomed threat into lane, then sputtered. Claimed for $20K by Mulhall from Martin Valenzuela, can improve.
ELM DRIVE
Trainer: Phil D’Amato
Last race: June 26, 6th
Finish: 1st by 8
Beyer: 68
Debut 2-year-old filly by promising first-crop sire Mohaymen worked well, hammered to odds-on, sped to lead, took heat, kicked away, won with something left, stakes caliber.
MAJOR CABBIE
Trainer: Peter Miller
Last race: June 26, 8th
Finish: 4th by 3 1/2
Beyer: 78
Veteran on downside of career had no shot in entry-level allowance/optional-claiming route while losing ground early, middle, and late. Loomed at eighth pole, tired. Fits versus similar.
WHAT IN BLAZES
Trainer: Jerry Hollendorfer
Last race: June 27, 1st
Finish: 2nd by 3/4
Beyer: 63
Debut 2-year-old colt was odds-on despite abbreviated work pattern, sped to lead, pressured, fought back, tired. Strong contender versus California-bred 2-year-old maidens now that he had a prep.
MESSIER
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Last race: May 27, 6th
Finish: 2nd by 1
Beyer: 60
Fast-working 2-year-old debut colt bet to odds-on, lost ground, raced greenly into and through lane, ducked to inside, finished evenly. Likely to move up a ton second time out.