Claimers get chance for solid payday on closing day
LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. – On closing day of the fall Thoroughbred meet, Los Alamitos will try something different to kick off the Friday card – five starter-allowance races that are labeled overnight stakes.
“It’s kind of a Breeders’ Cup for solid horses at the claiming level,” trainer Doug O’Neill said. “I think it’s a great idea to give some love to horses that are at a level where, most of the time, they are going to be changing barns [claimed].”
O’Neill trains two who fit the idea – Not Enough Eddie and Ultimate Luck, top choices in the $30,000 Buena Park, race 2. At 5 1/2 furlongs, the race is for horses who started for a claim tag of $8,000 or less in 2014-15 and have not won a claiming, starter, or optional claimer exceeding $8,000 since.
The $30,000 purse is more than twice the purse of a typical $8,000 restricted claimer. That is the point of the series, according to Los Alamitos racing secretary Bob Moreno. “It’s mainly for horses that have not won a lot of races to run for a little more money than they normally would. That’s the whole premise.”
The starter-allowance races Friday comprise the pick five. Race 1 is the $35,000 Long Beach, for $16,000 claiming fillies and mares at one mile. Race 2 is the Buena Park; race 3 is the $45,000 Seal Beach for $25,000 claiming sprinters at six furlongs. Race 4 is the $30,000 Westminster for $8,000 claiming filly-and-mare sprinters; race 5 is the $35,000 Rossmoor for $16,000 claiming horses at one mile.
Purse enhancements for the starter races were made available when Los Alamitos trimmed three stakes and $350,000 from its stakes schedule. Last fall, the track ran eight stakes worth $775,000; this fall, the track ran five stakes worth $425,000.
KEY CONTENDERS
LONG BEACH S. (RACE 1)
Kristinite (Last 3 Beyers: 78-49-60)
◗ A speed bias helped propel Kristinite to a nine-length claiming win Aug. 16 at Del Mar. She beat a decent field. The second- and fifth-place finishers returned to win next out.
◗ Bill Spawr trains Kristinite, the 8-5 favorite whose versatile style should lead to a good trip under Tyler Baze.
Fiesta Express (Last 3 Beyers: 50-65-70)
◗ A 7-year-old mare, Fiesta Express is worth longshot consideration. She has aimed for this race for the past month since a last-place comeback against tougher company at Del Mar. Fiesta Express is listed at 10-1.
BUENA PARK S. (RACE 2)
Not Enough Eddie (Last 3 Beyers: 72-76-76)
◗ With speed figures superior to his foes and a 2-for-2 record at Los Alamitos, Not Enough Eddie could be the most heavily fancied runner in the pick five. He is listed at 8-5.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the past year, O’Neill’s favorites have won at a 41 percent clip. With Mario Gutierrez riding, the stat mushrooms. Over the past year, O’Neill’s favorites ridden by Gutierrez have won at a 66 percent clip (19 for 29) and generated a $3.11 return for each $2 win bet. Gutierrez rides Not Enough Eddie.
SEAL BEACH S. (RACE 3)
Basmati (Last 3 Beyers: 80-85-69)
◗ On Sept. 17, Basmati crushed a similar starter allowance by 3 1/4 lengths.
“I don’t usually like running back that fast, but he came out of the race good,” trainer Richard Baltas said. Basmati is the 8-5 favorite.
Sacred Ovation (Last 3 Beyers: 85-75-0)
◗ The “best speed” of the field, Sacred Ovation faces two others with the same style. Jonny’s Choice and W. Giles are drawn to his outside.
WESTMINSTER S. (RACE 4)
Sea Royalty (Last 3 Beyers: 59-44-59)
◗ The most probable winner on the card, Sea Royalty is 3 for 9 following a 5 1/4-length win last month at Ferndale. Sea Royalty is the 5-2 favorite.
ROSSMOOR S. (RACE 5)
Crusher (Last 3 Beyers: 67-81-82)
◗ Fifth last out at Ferndale, Crusher is a 4-for-21 pro who won his only start at Los Alamitos.