Los Alamitos to hold its first 1,000-yard race
The migration of sprint-oriented Thoroughbreds to the evening meeting at Los Alamitos continues Friday.
There are two races restricted to lower-level Thoroughbreds at 4 1/2 furlongs and four races at 870 and 1,000 yards designed to lure Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds. No Quarter Horse were entered.
First post time is 9 p.m. Eastern, or 6 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.
The 870- and 1,000-yard races drew Thoroughbreds that have raced at the Los Alamitos evening meeting plus numerous runners in each race who have started on the California daytime circuits.
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Golden Gate Fields and Santa Anita are temporarily closed because of the coronavirus outbreak after they were deemed by their respective counties to be nonessential businesses. Both tracks hope to resume racing in the near future.
In recent weeks, Los Alamitos has been well-supported by Thoroughbred owners and trainers seeking options for horses that excel at shorter distances. Field sizes are strong on Friday, with seven or more entries in all of the one-turn races.
The fourth race, an allowance for nonwinners of two, is believed to be the track’s first race at 1,000 yards. While the distance is run for Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds in other states, notably New Mexico, Los Alamitos has run its mixed races at 870 yards for the last 25 years. There were some races at 990 yards in the late 1980s and early 1990s, though the distance was rarely used.
Friday’s 1,000-yard race drew a maximum field of 10. Of those, seven have started at the current Santa Anita meeting, which began in late December. Overkoter was seventh in a $20,000 claiming race for maidens on March 21 at Santa Anita and won a maiden special weight race at 870 yards on April 3 in his third start at the distance.
Tromador, who starts from the rail Friday, was third in a $15,000 claimer for nonwinners of two on March 6 at Santa Anita, the day he was claimed by current trainer Ryan Hanson. Tromador was a game second in an allowance race at 870 yards on April 11 after a troubled start.
There are three 300-yard races for Quarter Horses to conclude the program.
Diva On Fire, purchased for $210,000 at the Ruidoso yearling sale last September, will debut in a maiden special weight race for 2-year-old fillies at 300 yards in the seventh race.