Home track may appeal to Eurton debuter

CYPRESS, Calif. – In recent months, the unraced 2-year-old filly Perfect Ice Storm has had 13 workouts – nine at Los Alamitos and four at Del Mar. She may prefer the surface at Los Alamitos, according to trainer Peter Eurton.

“At Del Mar, her workouts weren’t as solid at Los Alamitos,” Eurton said on Sunday. “I think she likes the tighter surface at Los Al.”

Eurton’s theory will be tested when Perfect Ice Storm has her career debut in a maiden special weight race at 5 1/2 furlongs for statebred fillies in Thursday’s fourth race at Los Alamitos.

Owned by breeders Ron and Barbara Perry, who race as Cicero Farms, Perfect Ice Storm drew the rail in a field of seven that has three first-time starters.

First post for the eight-race program is 2 p.m. Pacific. Post time has been shifted an hour later by track management beginning Thursday for the final two weeks of the meeting, which runs through Sept. 23. The track is adding a second 50-cent pick five on Thursday, which will be held on the final five races each day.

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KEY CONTENDERS

Perfect Ice Storm, by He Be Fire N Ice

◗ Perfect Ice Storm, who will be ridden by Mario Gutierrez, is part of the first crop to race by the Unusual Heat stallion He Be Fire N Ice. Through Sunday, He Be Fire N Ice had two foals to race, neither of whom had won.

◗ Eurton said he expects Perfect Ice Storm to race as a stalker.

“If she gets away, she can be closer,” he said.

◗ Perfect Ice Storm is out of Stormin Quality, who has produced four winners, including Stormin Greeley, who won 10 of 74 starts.

Cause Why, by Creative Cause

◗ Cause Why is a first-time starter for first-time trainer John Cisneros, a former assistant to Mike Harrington. Owned by Huntertown Farm, Cause Why has been training at Los Alamitos, where she put in a half-mile gate work in 48.80 seconds last Saturday.

“I’m happy with the way she’s coming along,” Cisneros said. “She’s a very classy filly. All my riders are excited about her. She’s so easy to handle and very athletic.”

Hotitude, by Heat Shield
Beyer: 53

◗ Of the runners with experience, Hotitude is by far the most appealing. The filly was second in a maiden special weight race for California-breds at five furlongs at Del Mar on July 18. She fought for the lead to the final furlong before fading to finish 2 3/4 lengths behind Dichotomy.

Blueberry Princess, by Fighting Hussar
Last 3 Beyers: 44-47-23

◗ Blueberry Princess broke slowly in her first two starts, finishing fifth and fourth. In a maiden race at Del Mar on Aug. 15, her third start, Blueberry Princess had a clean break and was with the leaders to the turn before fading to finish sixth.

◗ Thursday’s race is her fourth start. She is the most experienced filly in the field.