Old pros highlight closing-day card at Los Alamitos
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A pair of admirable geldings who have combined to win 24 races are in the spotlight Sunday, closing day at Los Alamitos.
Graded stakes winner Midnight Mammoth returns as the race 3 favorite, while See Through It, seven-time winner of daytime races at Los Alamitos and the winningest horse in track history, starts in race 11, the final race of the meet.
Wagering value is questionable on Midnight Mammoth, but it’s always fun to watch a veteran who still enjoys his job. At age 7, Midnight Mammoth has taken trainer Craig Dollase and owner Jeffrey Sengara for quite a ride. It’s not over yet. Four months after being foiled by a pace duel and finishing last in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap, Midnight Mammoth returns in a seven-furlong starter allowance for horses who have raced for a $50,000 claiming tag or less.
Dollase and Sengara claimed Midnight Mammoth for $50,000 in 2023. Since then, he’s won six races, including a 10-length romp in the Grade 3 Cougar II at Del Mar, finished second in the Grade 2 Hollywood Gold Cup at Santa Anita, and earned $359,480 from 25 starts.
“He’s a trooper and doesn’t owe us anything,” Dollase said. “We’re happy to still have him in training. Hopefully, he’ll still have that winning spirit.”
Based on recent workouts with jockey Armando Ayuso, Midnight Mammoth is set to fire. The sprint on Sunday is his first start since the Santa Anita Handicap on March 7. Midnight Mammoth enters off back-to-back bullet works over the Santa Anita training track.
“He really takes to that inner track at Santa Anita,” Dollase said. “Armando’s come out and worked him a few times. He’s won at seven-eighths in the past, so that shouldn’t be a concern.”
Midnight Mammoth won a highly rated seven-furlong allowance in his January comeback at Santa Anita, then regressed 15 days later. He finished last as the favorite in the Grade 2 San Pasqual, followed by the Big Cap. Based on recent works, the four-month freshening woke him up.
“He looks like he’s coming back to his old self. We’re hoping, anyway,” Dollase said. “Hopefully, he’ll still have that winning spirit.”
If he runs well Sunday, Midnight Mammoth will be considered for the Grade 1 Pacific Classic on Aug. 22 at Del Mar. Unfortunately for Midnight Mammoth, the track discontinued the Cougar II, a 1 1/2-mile race he won by more than 10 lengths in 2024.
“We’ll just get through Sunday first and see how things shake out, but he does like that [Del Mar] track,” Dollase said. “We’ll play everything by ear. We’re just kind of looking to get a race under his belt.”
Midnight Mammoth has won 9 of 40. His main rival Sunday is Bartholdy, third-place finisher in four graded stakes at the winter-spring Santa Anita meet. Steve Knapp trains Bartholdy, who has won four races and $259,240 since he was claimed for $50,000 in 2024.
Dollase and Knapp each entered two in the starter allowance. Dollase’s Mr. Disrespectful won an entry-level allowance two weeks ago and could target the California Dreamin’ on turf Aug. 1 at Del Mar. Knapp-trained Whiskyginandbrandy finished a creditable fourth two weeks ago at Los Alamitos in the Bertrando Stakes.
Race 11 is the meet finale, in which See Through It tries to extend his record win total at Los Alamitos. His $8,000 starter-allowance victory on June 21 was his seventh win from 11 daytime starts at Los Alamitos. Coalinga Hills and We Will Re Joyce each won six daytime races at Los Alamitos.
Librado Barocio trains See Through It, who has won 15 of 54. He runs for the $20,000 optional claiming tag in the California-bred allowance sprint. See Through It will be ridden by Kyle Frey. His main rivals are Devil Be Me, Smokem Ez, Shady Tiger, and Bob’s Blue Moon.
Sunday is the final daytime program in California until July 17, opening day of the Del Mar summer meet.
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