Lombo returns in allowance

CYPRESS, Calif. – Since a sixth-place finish in the Grade 3 Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs on May 5, the 3-year-old stakes winner Lombo has switched stables, going from Mike Pender to Phil D’Amato.

Through the Del Mar summer meeting, Lombo was based with D’Amato, who said on Monday he used that time to watch the colt’s development. Lombo will have his debut for D’Amato in an allowance race with a $62,500 claiming option at six furlongs at Los Alamitos.

The eight-race program at Los Alamitos on Thursday is the opening card of the 12-day Los Angeles county fair meeting that runs through Sept. 23. Lombo, who won the Grade 3 Robert Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita in February, is part of a field of five and one of two stakes winners in the field. Aristocratic won the San Pedro Stakes at Santa Anita in April 2017.

First post time is 1 p.m. Pacific.

:: Wager on racing at Los Alamitos with DRF Bets

KEY CONTENDERS

Lombo, by Graydar
Last 3 Beyers: 76-67-86

◗ Lombo, who races for Michael Lombardi, won consecutive starts for Pender in the winter at Santa Anita – a maiden race at 6 1/2 furlongs on Jan. 20 and an upset at 8-1 in the Lewis Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on Feb. 3.

◗ Lombo was last of seven in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on March 10 before the loss at Churchill Downs on the Kentucky Derby undercard on a wet-fast track.

“It took me a little while to get to know him,” D’Amato said. “His last couple of drills have been good. Martin Garcia has been breezing him.”

◗ Garcia has the mount on Thursday. D’Amato said he was enthused by Lombo’s five-furlong workout in 1:00.20 from the gate at Del Mar on Aug. 30, particularly the way the colt galloped out.

“His last gate breeze was pretty impressive,” he said. “I breezed him in the middle of the week when the track has been deepest. He just kept going and going. He’ll go to Los Al and think he’s running on air.”

◗ D’Amato said the results of Thursday’s race will determine whether Lombo is kept around one turn or tried in longer races in coming months.

Street Vision, by Street Sense
Last 3 Beyers: 91-91-90

◗ Street Vision won a first-condition allowance race at Belmont Park on June 7 for his sixth career win and was fourth, beaten a length, by Tatters to Riches in an allowance race with a $40,000 claiming option at Del Mar on Aug. 4.

◗ Joe Herrick claimed Street Vision that day and starts the 5-year-old gelding for the first time on Thursday. Street Vision was previously trained by David Jacobson.

◗ Tatters to Riches returned to win the Shared Belief Stakes on Aug. 25.

Aristocratic, by Malibu Moon
Last 3 Beyers: 91-84-95

◗ Aristocratic has also switched stables since his last start. The 4-year-old gelding was third in a $40,000 claimer at Del Mar on Aug. 19, the day he was claimed by Peter Miller. Aristocratic set the pace that day and faded in the final furlong to finish 1 1/2 lengths behind Best Two Minutes.

◗ Aristocratic, winless in 10 starts since the San Pedro, is expected to set the pace.