Knapp has several good chances on card

With a 53-horse stable in Southern California, Steve Knapp has never been busier in his 22 years as a trainer.

With that large of a stable comes expectations, from clients as well as bettors who have watched the stable’s profile grow this year.

“You’ve got horses, you’ve got to produce,” Knapp said on Wednesday.

On Friday at Los Alamitos, Knapp has runners in five of the eight races, and has leading chances with Zimba Warrior in the fourth race for $25,000 claimers at a mile, and Larimar in a $16,000 claimer for fillies and mares at 6 1/2 furlongs in the sixth race.

Zimba Warrior, owned by Rex Racing and Knapp, is part of a field of six, and won his last start in a $20,000 claimer at a mile at Del Mar on Aug. 21.

“I think Zimba is really sharp,” Knapp said. “I think he’s going to run another big race.”

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On Aug. 21, Zimba Warrior finished a head in front of Disc Jockey, who is part of Friday’s field. Trained by Peter Miller, Disc Jockey was seventh in an allowance race at seven furlongs on Sept. 3.

Larimar drew the outside post in a field of seven, and will have her first start for Knapp and owner Les Blake on Friday. From an outside post, jockey Abel Cedillo is likely to have Larimar in a stalking position.

“I think it will be fantastic for her,” Knapp said of the likely race tactics.

Larimar finished second, beaten nine lengths, in a $20,000 claimer at six furlongs on Aug. 26 in her first race in California. Larimar was a three-time winner in 2021, but is winless in six starts this year.

“She’s trained very good since I’ve had her,” Knapp said.

Knapp’s other runners on Friday are Secret Square in the second race, a starter allowance at 5 1/2 furlongs; Monologue in the third race for $10,000 claimers at 5 1/2 furlongs; and Stay in the Game, who starts in a maiden special weight race at six furlongs in the seventh race.

Three of Knapp’s five runners on Friday were claimed in their last start. Knapp said he claimed 20 horses during the Del Mar summer meeting, while 10 were claimed from the stable.

“I’ve got guys that want to claim,” said Knapp, 65.

Knapp said he would like to expand the stable to 60 horses and not have just claiming stock.

“I’m buying babies at sales and trying to improve that way,” he said.

Knapp had six wins at the Del Mar summer meeting, the most at that season for his stable since he won eight races in 2005.

Friday will be Knapp’s busiest day of the racing week at Los Alamitos. He said he could have as many as four runners on Saturday and three on Sunday’s closing day of the two-week meeting.

Knapp predicts he will be busy when Santa Anita opens its autumn meeting on Sept. 30.

“I’ve got many horses to run,” he said. “The problem is getting them into races.”