Lovin' On the Run, Oveta's Hobby set for rubber match

A budding rivalry between two female sprinters resumes at Los Alamitos on Sunday, as the first week of the two-week September meet concludes with a plain, eight-race program.

Every race Sunday has a claiming provision, including the featured seventh race, an entry-level allowance/optional $40,000 claiming sprint. Eight fillies and mares are entered, including two who have traded decisions this season.

Oveta’s Hobby outran Lovin’ On the Run when they finished two-three in May at Santa Anita. The order was reversed next out when Lovin’ On the Run defeated Oveta’s Hobby as they finished one-two in June at Los Alamitos. Both have started since, ran well, and are top contenders in this 6 1/2-furlong race.

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The truth is, not much separates front-runner Oveta’s Hobby and late-runner Lovin’ On the Run. Both have won at Los Alamitos, both are in top form, and both are reliant on a favorable pace scenario. The pace Sunday benefits Oveta’s Hobby.

Although the field includes at least two others with speed, neither is as quick as Oveta’s Hobby. Ro Town has route speed and Stay in Line wired a Del Mar claiming sprint setting a slow pace last out. Other entrants include Emirates Affair, Over Attracted, Polythene Pam, and Shangrilama.

John Sadler trains Oveta’s Hobby, whose two best races came at Los Alamitos. She won a maiden-claiming race by 12 lengths last fall, and finished second to Lovin’ On the Run in June. In that race, one could argue runner-up Oveta’s Hobby ran better than the winner.

Oveta’s Hobby chased two longshot front-runners while fanned wide on the turn. She put away her pace rivals, fought back when Lovin’ On the Run rallied inside, and missed by a head. The likelihood of a softer pace on Sunday benefits Oveta’s Hobby and jockey Tyler Baze.

Doug O’Neill trains Lovin’ On the Run, who took advantage of the pace setup to outfinish Oveta’s Hobby. It was the first Los Alamitos start for Lovin’ On the Run, who followed the allowance win with a creditable fifth in the $120,000 Daisycutter Handicap on turf at Del Mar.

Lovin’ On the Run returns Sunday to dirt and to the class level of her most recent win while entered for the optional-claiming tag. If the distance is too far for front-runner Oveta’s Hobby, then Lovin’ On the Run and jockey Antonio Fresu might rally for the win again.

Stay in Line was claimed from a front-running win for $25,000 and may influence the pace. Shangrilama won a $25,000 claiming turf sprint last out, and will switch to dirt for the first time in the U.S. As a general rule, turf horses run well on dirt at Los Alamitos.

The significance of Sunday’s card may be limited to personal wagering results. Two of the most likely winners, at corresponding short prices, are droppers in races 1 and 5. L Rankin drops to the maiden-claiming level as the likely chalk over A. P. Again in race 1. Lil’ Boom Boom drops to the $12,500 claiming level in race 5.

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