I Will Score impresses with debut romp

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. – A promising 2-year-colt making his career debut stole the show Friday at Los Alamitos.

The highly touted I Will Score scored a 6 1/2-length debut romp in race 4, timed in a quick 1:03.04 for 5 1/2 furlongs. Mike Smith rode I Will Score for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.

Assistant Don Chatlos saddled the colt and gave Smith a leg up.

“He’s real big,” Smith said. “Don told me to get him up on his toes. He’s quick enough.”

I Will Score broke well, pressed the pace two wide, opened up on the turn, and romped.

“He was kind of green down the lane, by himself,” Smith said. “He started looking around. I don’t mind looking around down the backside, but not down the lane.”

Smith gave him one reminder with the whip to keep his mind on business. The final time was likely to earn a Beyer Speed Figure in the 70s. Bet from a 5-2 morning line, I Will Score returned $4.60 as the favorite.

Later in race 6, maiden 2-year-old fillies were less impressive from a final-time perspective, though the comeback win by Octofy was just a starting point. Octofy won by 2 1/4 lengths in 1:04.63.

Octofy, another in a long line of Square Eddie 2-year-olds trained by Doug O’Neill and owned by Paul Reddam, was making her first start since her July 3 debut. She finished fourth that day as the even-money favorite and came out of the race with sore shins.

She came back running Friday. Ridden by Mario Gutierrez, Octofy pressed the pace three wide, made the lead in midstretch, and won with something left. She paid $5.80 as the second favorite. Tangled Up in Ju, the favorite, was squeezed at the break and finished off the board.