Pair of sprints highlights Thursday card

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. – The middle of the card is the best part Thursday at Los Alamitos, where the second week of the fall Thoroughbred meet begins with two interesting sprints – one for older and one for younger runners.

Race 5 is a six-furlong starter allowance for horses who have raced for a $25,000 claiming tag or less since the start of 2014 and have not won a race at the level since. Three of the five entrants are contenders, and the other two are field fillers.

Race 6 is a five-furlong maiden race for California-bred 2-year-olds. Six of the seven entrants are first-time starters, including the most probable winner. He happens to be the only colt, while the others are geldings.

Field size during opening week averaged 8.06 runners per race. That number will drop during the second week. There were 121 entered for a total of 16 races Thursday and Friday, a 7.56 average.

Race 5

Key contenders

Basmati (Last 3 Beyers: 85-69-85)

* Trainer Richard Baltas claimed him for $20,000 from a sharp last-out win at Del Mar. Tiago Pereira keeps the mount on the 5-for-32 gelding with a $490,756 bankroll that exceeds the combined earnings of his four rivals.

* Basmati drew the inside post but actually figures for a good trip positioned second. If he maintains form for Baltas, he can wear down the pacesetter. Baltas operates one of the top stables on the circuit, yet he is just 1 for 24 first off the claim since May 2014.

Devil Rising (Last 3 Beyers: 87-62-63)

* The last-start figure by Devil Rising requires an asterisk. He won the $25,000, second-level claiming race by almost five lengths, leading gate to wire. However, Devil Rising had a speed bias in his favor.

* Devil Rising, trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, looks like the speed of the field under Mario Gutierrez.

Buckleberry Grey (Last 3 Beyers: 75-94-80)

* In five starts since he was gelded, Buckleberry Grey has won three times and placed second once.

* He had a brutal trip last out in what amounts to a throw-out race. Baltas claimed the gelding from Doug O’Neill, but the claim was voided when he did not pass a post-race soundness inspection. Buckleberry Grey runs for O’Neill again Thursday.

Race 6

Key contenders

Dixie Caravan (No previous Beyer)

* The only colt in the field of California-bred 2-year-olds, Dixie Caravan debuts with a solid workout pattern for trainer Craig Dollase.

* Dixie Caravan, by Dixie Chatter, was purchased for $85,000 at a sale of 2-year-olds in training. The colt is owned by West Point Thoroughbreds.

Discreetlyhumorme (No previous Beyer)

* Flavien Prat, who rode four winners Sunday, has the mount on the gelding for trainer Mark Glatt, who also entered Lucky Snow.

Buff Dude (Last 2 Beyers: 56-23)

* The only experienced runner in the field, Buff Dude improved second time out, finishing second in a similar maiden race for statebred 2-year-olds.