Hammersly: How I'd play Los Alamitos for Saturday, July 11

It's difficult to get too worked up over this card (three maiden races and three restricted claimers comprise the first six races, making a multi-race wager difficult to come by). The last three races do, however, present an opportunity for a pick three play.

Race 7

TRUE HISTORY (#5) has been knocking on the door on turf at this level. The level and distance obviously suit and she has proven dirt form, so the surface switch should be no sweat. MY SWEET AFLEET (#6) dueled and weakened in her last two, both on turf at this level. She appears better on dirt. Her lone win came on dirt and also came from off the pace, so she doesn't want to be dueling early. ASPARAGUS (#4) ran on well to be third on turf at Santa Anita June 11. that was her first start in almost 10 months so she can improve off that outing. It's her first time on dirt, yes, but she's been working nicely over this track all along. IVANA BEAT YABAD (#7) is a legitimate theft play. She looks like the main speed. ZUZU'S PETALS (#3) has finished in the trifecta in eight of 10 starts, so she's got some game. This is her first route but her fairly even running style sprinting is the type that often translates well to a stretchout.

A’s) 5, 6
B’s) 4, 7
C’s) 3

Race 8

WARREN'S VENEDA (#7) was the best older distaffer on the West Coast the first five months or so of this year, at least while Beholder was on the sidelines. She couldn't handle that multiple champion last time but still ran well. Her only prior try here was a very strong second in the Grade 2 Bayakoa last fall. Yes, she's been routing, but she can sprint just fine. SUNDAY RULES (#5) is unbeaten and basically untested in five starts. She's been nothing short of dazzling, leading wire to wire in all five. She's worked strongly, so there's every reason to believe she'll fire again - but she's never faced the likes of WARREN'S VENEDA, or even FANTASTIC STYLE. Still, there's no telling how good this gal might be. FANTASTIC STYLE (#6) has loads of quality. After finishing third in the Graded 2 Beaumont at Keeneland April 12, she came back to SoCal and was an easy winner of the Angel Flight at Santa Anita May 16. She's worked well in the interim and Rafael Bejarano keeps the call for Bob Baffert.

A’s) 5, 7
B’s) 6
C’s) None

Race 9

NOT ENOUGH EDDIE (#4) pressed the pace and fizzled on turf at Santa Anita May 30 but apparently that's not the game he wants. He moved back to dirt, down in class (to the $12,500 level) at Santa Anita June 20 and rebounded to be a nice third. This further drop may be just what the doctor ordered. Oh, and his lone win came the one time he raced on this track. LAND OF THE FREE (#6) chased the pace and faded to sixth against more expensive at Santa Anita last time, but he won 3 of his prior 5, all over this track, so returning here may be key. ZNELLE (#2) is stepping well up in price, but the gelding comes off two straight wins over this track and showed he holds his edge with a bullet 46.60 work here July 4. PAX TECUM (#7) easily won here July 2, only to get himself disqualified. At least that run shows sprinting is his best game and that he very much likes it here.

A’s) 4
B’s) 2, 6
C’s) 7