Los Alamitos: Closer Looks for July 3, 2014

Race 1

Brought to Justice

The only member of the cast to have raced over this strip, although those efforts werent much to write home about; did outrun her odds going long on the Golden Gate turf three weeks ago while being reteamed with Boag; been a long time between drinks and looking in other directions for the first couple of spots.

Kid Rollins

Overcame a stumbling start to earn the graduation papers two back at SA, then split a compact cast while racing under these conditions a month ago with runner-up Incredible Journey eeking out a victory last Sunday as the chalk; figures to be in tracking mode under the solid apprentice Van Dyke.

I'm No Patsy

The only time she tried this exact trip, the result was a coast-to-coast score across town; sat close to a quick pace when sprinting in that last one and paid the price in the lane; every other a good one players will be lining up behind this one and she has to be considered.

Bodie Girl

Guce certainly knows his way around the smaller oval here; took plenty of money in first try in nearly a year and a half at SA last month and failed to menace while taking the short way around; a right to move forward with that one under her belt and gets to race over her home track.

Fiesta Express

Her 4 snapshots is twice as many as anyone in the field and while she hasn't been threatening of late, she does drop out of the best races while turning up in this conditioned seller; Pereira has made a good impression and gets his first chance with her.

Mon Petite

Took a van ride up to Pleasanton, got some class relief and made short work of a half-dozen rivals without an anxious moment; that could have very well done something for her confidence and she figures to be right on top of the action from the get-go.

Race 2

Take Back Spring

Been a bystander to this point in two starts for solid barn, taking a bit of money on both occasions; needs to show more.

Fortune's Daughter

First of 2 for Harrington, who trains his runners over this layout; couldn't make any impression in last month's debut, finishing 7 lengths behind today's rival Desert Thief.

Jilly Juice

First of 2 for Solis and they both train here; sire and barn both hit with 10 percent of the new faces with works on the modest side and a hustling Pedroza in the saddle.

Brazilian Barbeque

Stormin Fever clicks with 7 percent of his beginners; sports a couple of local bullets, but others seem more appealing on paper.

Charmstealer

Bushwaker has 2 winners from 24 first timers; been readied at San Luis Rey and the drills don't exactly get the pulse racing.

Tatum's Gold

Grazen 1-for-6 with his first crop; both owner/breeder Alexander and trainer Miyadi finished up the Santa Anita meet in super fashion; modest Golden Gate drills, but that is normal for solid conditioner.

City Ride

The other Harrington; hammered to 4-5 in debut, had an awkward takeoff and failed to menace; no excuses in that last one with runner-up returning to score; Baze willing to give it another try.

Sweet Mz. Poppet

Solid 2nd behind a runaway victress in the April unveiling, then dueled hard all the way as the 3-2 chalk one week ago and was no match for the winner; must respect the speed.

Desert Thief

Battled it out in debut and didn't give it up until late in the game, then tracked in that last one and was unable to come up with the needed punch; blinkers go on and figures right there.

Gracie Jean

Sent off at 54-1 in the only appearance and was badly outrun; looking elsewhere.

Race 3

Citizenship

The only 4-year-old in the field and the only one with experience, but she's been away a long time; Baffert trainee was been well bet each time, with a good effort, an even try and then a dull one before going to the bench; sports some nice local drills.

Doodetta

Wildcat Heir has won with 59 of his 341 firsters; completed preparations with a bullet three panels on the SA training track for Sir Neil.

Here's Bella

Sire is 72-for 505 in the new face department; the other member of the field who has been training over this layout, with a steady series of moves for Koriner and they get Talamo to guide.

Art of War

A.P Warrior has clicked with 8 of 102 firsters; been prepared by Capestro at San Luis Rey; would need to see a good appearance and some tote action.

Nightly

First of 2 debuting Glen Hill Farm homebreds from the Proctor shedrow, which hits with 17 percent of their beginners; sire is 16-for-241 with debut runners.

Twenty Six Acts

Stablemate new faces are drawn side-by-side; Strong Contender has won with 6 of 84 firsters and barn doesn't have to work them fast to have them ready.

Race 4

Bob Consultation

scratched

Star Rocker

Goes from one strong barn to another with Hollendorfer taking him last time from O'Neil and King Jerry has teriffic numbers first off the claim; all three wins have come over the lawn, but he also has some good dirt tries; must respect.

Relentless Heat

Long-fused son of prolific Cal sire Unusual Heat has been a nibbler since being red-tagged by Eurton last summer; a bit better exit from the gate and some serious battling up front would definitely help the case and he has a very, very long stretch to work with.

Dewrag

Got some class relief dropping into that conditioned claimer to close out the Anita stand and did the track-and-attack to perfection for Maldanado; the water gets deeper now and he'll need to step up his game to do an encore.

Serious

Interesting placing for this filly, as she takes on the boys after really turning her form around in her last couple of starts over the Arcadia strip; this is a much tougher group, however, and things don't figure to be nearly as easy for her up front this time around.

Magic Beam

Talk about being popular at the claim box, this guy has been haltered from 8 of the last 10; back in the Mulhall barn now and note the only time she put the saddle on this gelding he rallied up the rail to win going away last summer at Del Mar.

Gal Has to Like It

Been knocking on the door since being claimed for a bargain 8K out of a winning February effort; lost a hearbreaker the other day at 19-1 after opening up what looked like a winning advantage at midstretch and earned a solid figure in the process; helps make it interesting.

Derringer

Claimed in late Nov. and then vanished until three weeks ago when he vied all the way inside Gal Has to Like It at 24-1 and didn't give way until late; should benefit by the outing and Trujillo got to know him last time, adds to the intrigue.

Regally Soul

Another who made first appearance of 2014 at SA last month; made a decent late move to complete the exacta behind Dewrag and now gets the chance to race over the track he's called home this spring.

Adrenaline Shot

Had been away for nearly 11 months when he turned up in that race down the hill a month ago and was finished by the time they hit the dirt crossing; looks to have his work cut out again.

Too Fast to Pass

Claimed by Palma, who is the all-time leading trainer here for the Orange County Fair that ran from the late 70s through 1991; outside slot gives Kent options and this guy looks like a nice fit under these starter conditions.

Luca

scratched

Race 5

Voluntary

Has flashed improved speed in last pair while coming away with show finishes on both occasions; figures to be prompting the issue again while cutting back a furlong and looks to be right in the mix.

Storm Hollow

Son of Marino Marini makes belated debut at age 5 with a string of modest San Luis Rey workouts; would need to see some action and a good appearance to bite.

Grey Is Best

Distance/turf experiment found him stopping badly; hard to get too enthused as he figures to be taking early heat from both sides here.

Catcanscat

Makes 2nd start after spending a year on the sidelines; met better in the return, showed some early interest and then was eased in the drive; optimists will point to race under belt and more realistic placing.

Chattering Class

Miller trainee isn't exactly the most generous type in the stretch but could very well swell up facing this group; Pedroza should have him right on top of the action from the start and no surprise to see him posing for pictures.

Storm the Heavens

Troubled debut last October, then prompted the issue in Inglewood the following month before heading to the bench; new conditioner Eurton wastes no time in dropping him to the bottom level with some decent SLR drills in tow.

Nine of Hearts

Dispatched at 66-1 under these exact conditions last month, got into some early trouble and was beaten a mile; can't recommend.

Kitchen

Off at long odds in all three starts and hasn't seen afternoon action in just shy of a year; hard to see.

Angel Charge

Still looking for his first on-the-board finish in his 16th attempt; on the bright side, does sport some figures that would make him a player with this group and that :58 and change bullet drill here catches the eye.

Juwan

Brief foot and then a hasty retreat in both his outings, which came nine months apart; needs to do better.

Vite Tribal Reign

AE took some tote action in the second start and showed improved speed before giving way in the lane.

American Style

AE is an interesting possibility if drawing into cast; completed local drills with a pair of swift moves for barn that can get it done with new faces.

Race 6

Justamitch

Made 3-2 look like a gift when he dropped into a sweet conditoned spot at P Town and wired them; goes from one good barn to another to another with the hot Miyadi reaching in and taking him; dangerous right back.

Johnny Reb

First of 4 in here who have been doing recent work here around the five-eighths night oval; class drop last time obviously agreed with him as he finishd well to just miss at 4.5 furlongs; tougher group, but seems headed in right direction.

Mary Helen's Storm

Last a tearjerker two back in Arcadia at this distance, then dueled from the inside and had nothing left for the final furlong; doesn't always run them alike, with the better version being a player with this kind.

My Count Silver

Returned from a lengthy vacation to handle bottom level types here in April, faltered at Golden Gate and then went evenly when coming back here for the last; looking elsewhere for the first couple of placings.

Time for a Hug

Was game in the 2-year-old debut 15 months ago, battled and weakened behind some nice prospects in the only other try and then disappeared for over a year; once well-regarded runner brought back in a very modest spot with Pedroza; question marks abound.

Cold Bay

Took some money while making the dive off the class ladder here last month and could only pick up a slice; has to do better if he wants to make an impact with these.

Cinco de Mario

Has burned a lot of money while trying a little bit of everything, sprint and route, dirt and turf, back and forth; drops to the lowest level of his career today while testing the local oval for the first time; can he dial a wake-up call?

Backstreet Boss

Been the boss around these parts in his last two starts while showing some versatility in the process; has changed hands after last five starts, with Wallace reclaiming him from that last one; tougher rivals, but has the local advantage with Guce.

Shining Son

Trainer was holding a hot hand over at Santa Anita; plenty of nibbles since breaking the maiden but hasn't been able to come across with the needed punch; best effort would certainly put in the hunt under veteran Delgadillo.

Warren's Jeff G.

Can't get too excited about the even efforts in last three over this strip, including the most recent when never a menace behind the streaking Backstreet Boss.

Rosko

AE won three of last four over this layout, then stopped badly after setting a fast pace at Santa Anita off the claim; smart 5-furlong spin showing here during the interim.

Green Dolphin

AE has just one snapshot showing from the 17 trips to the post;; nothing doing in that last one and will have to pick things up to threaten.

Race 7

Spirit Rules

First of two from Aguirre barn and they compliment each other, with this one figuring to be up close off the stretchout while stablemate Tiz A Minister is a Silky Sullivan type; comes off a career-best score in an Arcadia sprint with main man Iggy, but will need to step it up at least a notch in this once-around.

Soi Phet

Has proven to be an outstanding 16K claim by Powell, winning half of his 10 starts for the new connections while seemingly developing into a new horse; dropped into a sweet spot on the SA lawn last month and refused to lose while carrying a hefty 129-pound impost; should play role of stalker with Kent back at the controls.

Rousing Sermon

The richest member of the cast with his 775K bankroll and he has danced some of the biggest, including the Ky. Derby and Big Cap; recent work has been a bit on the disappointing side, but a great fit here for Hollendorfer and Pedroza and certainly has races that make him formidable under these conditions.

Leaving New York

One of four in the cast with the advantage of having trained over this layout; figures to be forcing the issue with Steiner, who got to know him in his most recent try over the Phoenix lawn and has been working well for O Callaghan; needs to come up with his very best while racing down the longest stretch in the United States.

Full Dancer

Wiggins hit the jackpot claiming this ex-patriot for a mere 5K at Oaklawn in March, saddling this guy for three romping wins from four appearances; most recently took the early heat at Churchill and left the field for dead at the top of the stretch; feeling real good right now and lands Hall of Famer Smith, but it wont be easy.

Rock Me Baby

Been first or second in 9 of his 13 starts for Dollase; chased an absolute beast in Seeking the Sherif at Anita last month and it should be noted that was his first start of the season; can do a little bit of everything, dirt and turf, short and long, and Nakatani could have well learned something about him the other day.

Tribal Jewel

The last time he tried this journey, he earned a triple digit Beyer, but that was a wet-fast surface some 19 months ago; Rousing Sermons barnmate was last seen completing the exacta while carrying a high-priced for-sale sign going just a tad longer in Arcadia; figures to be in track-and-pounce mode under new pilot Trujillo.

Tiz a Minister

The other Aguirre and the way this race shapes up on paper, they could be setting the table for his patented late charge; reported foot issues have kept him away since late January, but he has been working smartly over this layout and lands SA leading pilot Talamo; may very well adore that long stretch.

Storm Fighter

Exits the May 31 Californian, where he tracked Fury Kapkori and then couldn t quite keep pace while finishing behind last weekends Gold Cup one-two finishers Majestic Harbor and Clubhouse Ride; Maldanado will no doubt try to use his speed to get some kind of position; needs very best.

Better Bet

Didnt get any breaks drawing the 10 hole here and it also figures to be pretty crowded up front, which is how he likes to race; does lure Tyler Baze, who will be trying his hand for the first time and he has the local angle working for him; that said, he looks like an outsider here both literally and figuratively.

Race 8

Thames Valley

Two starts this year have been rather uninspiring, now she gets the chance to stretch her legs another furlong and a half; only real plus we can see is the cozy post.

Sheza Eyeopener

She's missed quite a few chances as she makes her 14th stab at the brass ring, but she's a decent fit with this group and the blinkers go back on with Trujillo trying his hand and an inside slot.

Warrens Goldnugget

Double-digit defeats in all 5 starts, including 3 attempts over a distance of ground; leaning toward others.

Oinkus

Trailed throughout in the debut, then went to her nose at the break in the only other outing and brought up the rear; can't recommend.

Sweet Silica

No menace behind a romping winner in the May unveiling, then stumbled coming out of there last time and was finished early.

Bea's Bench

Has been facing much tougher, with the last pair coming over the Anita lawn, and seems to have found her friends with this placing; no surprise to see a major move forward.

Cheeseonaroll

Didn't make it to the races until the age of 6 and nothing doing in either try, the most recent at 109-1.

Honky Tonk Diva

Well beaten in all five outings while going off at long odds and now it's back to a route of ground while shedding the blinkers.

Katy's Plum

A nibble here and a nibble there and now she returns to So Cal after an even effort over the Golden Gate lawn; perhaps a minor share.

Itsherprerogative

The only member of the field who has yet to race with a claiming tag and she couldn't have asked for a much easier assignment in her first dirt attempt; trickiest part of the equation is going to be this tough post position.

Wintara

scratched