Maiden races the big draw on Thursday card

An allowance race with five runners offers the day’s highest purse, but that $45,000 route is just a distraction from the main theme – maidens – Thursday at Los Alamitos.

Six of the nine races are for maidens, including three special-weight sprints with as much appeal as the featured seventh race, an entry-level allowance mile that 2-1 favorite Catoca figures to win.

Though 0 for 5 in the U.S., Catoca has run well four times, including in her latest. She finished fifth after being compromised by a fast pace and a nine-furlong distance that was out of reach. She benefits Thursday by a shorter distance and easier pace scenario.

Catoca faces Pacific Strike, Charmingslew, Qafilah, and Watheeqa. Catoca has never raced on dirt, but worked well on the surface for unlucky trainer Anna Meah, who is 2 for 69 with 17 seconds and 9 thirds since opening her stable last fall.

The maiden special weight sprints are race 2 for older California-breds, race 5 for juvenile statebreds, and race 8 for fillies and mares. If the turf-to-dirt switch is a challenge for Catoca, the move is only a minor concern for the most probable winner on the card, race 2 favorite Young Hendrick.

Young Hendrick has never raced on dirt, but trainer Phil D’Amato looks forward to running turf horses at Los Alamitos.

“For a dirt track, turf horses seem to run well there,” D’Amato said. “I’ve had a lot of success running grass horses on that main track. It’s fast, and horses just kind of float over it.”

D’Amato is 11 for 31 with Los Alamitos surface-switchers. Young Hendrick can add to the total after an outstanding comeback. Racing five furlongs at Santa Anita, he was caught outside a horse that blew the turn. Young Hendrick re-rallied, and missed by 2 1/4 lengths.

Young Hendrick, the likely pacesetter, will be tough to beat against Jetovator and first-time starter Atomic Candy.

Race 5 favorite Fly the Sky finished third in his debut June 2. Fly the Sky was climbing early, leveled off late, and finished willingly behind two good rivals. The winner, Phantom Boss, returned to win the Grade 3 Bashford Manor at Churchill Downs, and runner-up Pas de Panique returned to win a maiden race.

Steve Miyadi trains Fly the Sky, whose rivals include second-time starter Pour On the Cole and first-time starter Bluegrass Faith.

Bob Baffert trains the race 8 principals. First-time starter Shocking Fast worked in company with Game Winner on June 28 and should come out firing. The program favorite is last-out runner-up Raneem.