Maidens take spotlight on Friday sprint card

CYPRESS, Calif. – Maiden 2-year-olds race 5 1/2 furlongs Friday at Los Alamitos in the most attractive race on a modest sprint program that includes four maiden races and four low-level or restricted claiming races.

First-time starters St. Joe Bay and Gambler’s Roll are key starters in race 2, a maiden special weight race with six runners. Holding Aces and Unblunted also will make their debuts, while True Image and Arigato are second-time starters with an upset chance.

The fall Thoroughbred meet is only the second Los Alamitos meet since Hollywood Park and Fairplex Park ended live racing. The relevance of the Los Alamitos 2-year-old program has been minimal.

None of the maiden special weight winners from the summer meet hit the board in a subsequent start; two stakes winners from the summer had their campaigns interrupted. Story to Tell returned to work Tuesday, and the filly La Grange is sidelined indefinitely.

The 2-year-old quality at Los Alamitos is likely to improve over the weekend – the $100,000 Barretts Debutante will be run Saturday, and the $100,000 Barretts Juvenile is Sunday. Meanwhile, maidens take the stage Friday.

First-crop sire Eskendereya has two in race 2 – Gambler’s Roll, trained by Phil D’Amato, and Holding Aces, trained by Bob Baffert. Eskendereya, the 2010 Wood Memorial winner, has had three debut winners from 22 starters through Tuesday, none on dirt.

While the 2014 stud fee for Eskendereya was $17,500, a less expensive stallion might have the right runner for the Los Alamitos maiden race. Saint Anddan stood the 2014 season for $2,000; he sired the Peter Miller-trained St. Joe Bay.

KEY CONTENDERS

St. Joe Bay (first-time starter)

◗ After a 10-second breeze at the OBS June sale, St. Joe Bay was sold to Miller for $60,000. The colt, the first foal from a 1-for-8 dam, appears to have worked well at San Luis Rey Downs for his debut.

◗ Miller trained one of the first winning progeny of Saint Anddan – 2011 debut winner Woebegon. Miller also posted an upset Saturday at Los Alamitos with a 2-year-old making her debut. Xoxo, by Majestic Warrior, won by 4 1/2 lengths and returned $23.20.

Gambler’s Roll (first-time starter)

◗ After he breezed three furlongs in 33.60 seconds at the OBS spring sale, Gambler’s Roll was sold for $75,000. The colt, the first foal from a 2-for-7 dam, appears to have worked well for his debut.

◗ D’Amato started two well-backed maiden special weight rookies in 2-year-old races this year at Del Mar. Long Hot Summer won, and Rocko’s Wheel finished fifth.

Holding Aces (first-time starter)

◗ Sold for $340,000 as a yearling, Holding Aces has been working all summer at Los Alamitos.

◗ Baffert’s first-time starters who are “live” usually get bet. Over the past year, Baffert is 11 for 28 with debuting 2-year-olds who start at less than 5-1.