Plenty of wagering options on interesting card
The focus is handicapping and wagering Friday at Los Alamitos, where the seven-race card offers an array of choices.
In terms of picking winners, some decisions Friday look easy. Those include an apparent class/speed standout in the first race. Others require more interpretation, such as the 2-year-old first-time starters in the final race. Start to finish, the Friday card is one of firsts.
In race 1, favorite Nolongerahobby seeks his first victory in nearly two years, and first sprint win since a maiden race in 2018. But the veteran enters the $8,000 claiming starter with such a conspicuous advantage on speed and class that his extended drought is only a minor flaw.
Runner-up in a $69,000 California-bred allowance route last out, Nolongerahobby nosedives Friday into a starter allowance with an $18,000 purse. Reed Saldana trains the gelding, whose speed figures tower over six rivals. His closing style is a non-issue, even at 5 1/2 furlongs. Deep closers won 4 of 8 at the distance opening weekend.
Nolongerahobby must catch Storminside, who was compromised by early trouble in both recent starts. The pace dilemma recurs in race 2, a $12,500 claiming mile in which late-runner Family Biz will try to wear down likely pacesetter Dr. Troutman. Route races opening weekend also produced bias-free results – half won by speed, half by closers.
The race 6 feature is a six-furlong California-bred allowance loaded with speed. The scenario is perfect for likely favorites Quick Finish and Clayton Delaney. Both run best rallying from behind and will have every chance while chasing front-runners Starship Chewbacca, Shady Empire, Stir the Pot, and Crosskirk.
Quick Finish did not run particularly well last out, finishing sixth in a $25,000 claiming turf sprint. But he returns to dirt Friday, first start off the claim by Jonathan Wong, and ran fast enough in recent dirt starts to win Friday. Since the start of 2020, Wong is 14 for 63 at Los Alamitos. Jockey Ramon Vazquez, who went 4 for 8 opening weekend to lead the standings, rides Quick Finish.
Clayton Delaney drops to statebred allowance and returns to a surface on which he thrives. He won a maiden race at Los Alamitos in 2020 and posted a recent series of bullet works over the track. Clayton Delaney is trained by Phil D’Amato and will rally late under Edgar Payeras.
Race 7, a five-furlong sprint for California-bred maiden 2-year-olds, includes the first California starter by first-crop sire Accelerate. Fast-working Workday makes his debut for trainer John Sadler and owner-breeder Hronis Racing, who campaigned Accelerate to a 10-win, $6.9 million career that included four Grade 1 wins in 2018. Accelerate’s first nine starters include one debut winner.
Juan Hernandez, leading rider at Santa Anita and 2 for 2 opening weekend at Los Alamitos, rides Workday.
Straighten Up is the first Jerry Hollendorfer trainee to start at a major California track since December. The son of Straight Fire has posted fast workouts; his rider is Mike Smith.