High-level experience might make difference in Pat Hyland Handicap

With experience in recent 350-yard futurities, Favorite Colossus and SC Divas Cartel Man may have an advantage in Sunday’s $20,000 Pat Hyland Handicap for 2-year-olds at that distance at Los Alamitos.

The race drew only six runners and will be the first start in a stakes for the winners A Solid Reason, Counting the Ways, Dreamland Express, and Sassies Blues Girl.

They may be at a disadvantage against Favorite Colossus, who was fourth in the $322,000 Governor’s Cup Futurity on July 25, and SC Divas Cartel Man, who was sixth in the $1.15 million Ed Burke Million Futurity on June 21.

Favorite Colossus drifted to the inside through the final 100 yards and was beaten a half-length by winner Constituent in the Governor’s Cup Futurity at 350 yards. Trained by former top jockey Cesar De Alba, Favorite Colossus drew the rail in the Hyland, his fifth start. Favorite Colossus won a division of the Governor’s Cup Futurity time trials on July 11 under leading jockey Jesus Ayala, who has the mount Sunday.

SC Divas Cartel Man, trained by Mike Robbins, was beaten for the first time in his third start in the Burke, finishing 2 1/4 lengths behind Chance to Excel. SC Divas Cartel Man won a maiden race in April and a division of the Burke time trials at 350 yards on June 7.

Dreamland Express appears to be improving rapidly. After finishing second at Remington Park in his debut in May for trainer Dee Keener, Dreamland Express is unbeaten in two starts for trainer Juan Aleman this summer at Los Alamitos.

Dreamland Express won a 300-yard maiden race June 28 and an allowance race for nonwinners of two at the same distance Aug. 1. In both races, Dreamland Express won by at least a half-length, an encouraging sign in advance of Sunday’s slightly longer race.

The fillies A Solid Reason and Sassies Blues Girl have the outside two post positions.

A Solid Reason was fourth in a division of the Governor’s Cup Futurity trials and returned to win an allowance race at 300 yards on July 18.

Sassies Blues Girl drifted to the inside from post 3 and was fifth behind Favorite Colossus as the even-money favorite in the Governor’s Cup trials. The loss was her first in three starts. She is trained by Mike Casselman.