Overflow field of 2-year-old fillies for opening-day feature

The first-time starters Hidden Nile, Kenda, and Resilient Humor are part of a full field of 2-year-old maiden fillies in Thursday’s sixth race at Los Alamitos, opening day of the track’s winter Thoroughbred meeting.

The meeting runs for two weeks on a Thursday-through-Sunday basis through Dec. 18. There are two Grade 1 races for 2-year-olds on Saturday – the Starlet for fillies and Los Alamitos CashCall Futurity. On Dec. 17, California Chrome is scheduled to start in the $100,000 Winter Challenge, his final start before the $12 million Pegasus World Cup on Jan. 28 at Gulfstream Park.

Thursday’s eight-race program begins at 1 p.m. Pacific. The maiden special weight race for 2-year-old fillies is run at 5 1/2 furlongs. The race drew an oversubscribed field of 12, but will be limited to 10 starters. Six fillies have started, including Diva La Mousse and With Love

KEY CONTENDERS

Diva La Mousse, by Hat Trick
Last 3 Beyers: 63-65-54

Diva La Mousse was fourth in the Barretts Debutante Stakes at Los Alamitos in September and was second and fifth in maiden races on the hillside turf course during the Santa Anita autumn meeting. Trained by Bob Baffert, Diva La Mousse is expected to set the pace.

With Love, by Tapit
Last 3 Beyers: 58-56-57

With Love was third in a maiden race on dirt at Del Mar in August in her debut and struggled in maiden races on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita, finishing ninth and eighth. Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, With Love is out of Washington Bridge, winner of the Grade 2 Bayakoa Handicap at Hollywood Park in 2010.

Kenda, by Bodemeister

Trained by Phil D’Amato, Kenda is out of stakes winner Indian Legend, who earned $294,550. Indian Legend is a sister to Cherokee Queen, who won seven stakes and earned $628,312.

D’Amato, who has a solid record with first-time starters, has emphasized gate works with Kenda in recent weeks. The filly had three five-furlong gate works in November.

Hidden Nile, by PioneeroftheNile

Owned and bred by Calumet Farm, Hidden Nile was in training over the summer but had a gap of three months in recorded workouts before resuming serious activity in early October. Trained by Doug O’Neill, Hidden Nile has worked steadily since early October, although none of the workouts have produced quick times.

Resilient Humor, by Distorted Humor

Trained by Jesus Mendoza, Resilient Humor has a strong female family. She is the first foal out of Sassy Image, winner of two Grade 1 races who earned $828,216. Sassy Image won 7 of 18 starts in a career highlighted by wins in the Grade 1 Humana Distaff at Churchill Downs and the Grade 1 Princess Rooney Stakes at Calder, both in 2011.

Resilient Humor has worked steadily since late September and has had the fastest three-furlong workout of the morning three times since early October, including twice from the gate.