Schnell makes career debut as Thoroughbred meet opens

Southern California racing has a new look, available for two weeks on computer screens and television sets most everywhere.

Los Alamitos begins its daytime Thoroughbred meet Friday, and like the SoCal meets before and after, things also will be quiet at the Orange County racetrack. Santa Anita closed Sunday, spectator-free. Del Mar begins July 10, spectator-free.

The same guidelines apply at Los Alamitos, which will conduct seven days of spectator-free racing the next two weeks – Friday through Sunday this week, Thursday through Sunday next week, July 2-5.

Friday’s eight-race card begins at 1 p.m. and comprises six maiden races, including a special weight for 2-year-olds that is arguably the most significant race on the card. That assumes first-time starter Schnell runs as expected.

Schnell makes his debut as the favorite in race 4, at five furlongs. Based on workouts, trainer, and pedigree, the Louisiana-bred colt by Star Guitar should be tough.

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Simon Callaghan trains Schnell for Kaleem Shah, who purchased Schnell for $200,000 after he breezed an eighth-mile in 10 seconds at the OBS March sale. A full sibling to Grade 2 sprint winner Minit to Stardom, Schnell commenced training in spring at Santa Anita.

Schnell produced speed in a May 31 gate work viewed on XBTV.com and posted another gate work June 7. He did not record a subsequent work until 15 days later. He posted a bullet three furlongs in 35 seconds on Monday at Santa Anita.

“He’s a nice colt and I expect him to be competitive first out, but he will be better when goes further down the road,” Callaghan said via text.

Two of Schnell’s four siblings won first out; Callaghan is 10 for 25 with debut juvenile sprinters the past three seasons. Ruben Fuentes rides Schnell, the 2-1 program favorite by track linemaker Ed Burgart.

Schnell’s main rival is 5-2 second choice Dyn O Mite, runner-up as the even-money favorite in his debut one month ago. Dyn O Mite raced wide and finished evenly without showing the speed he reportedly flashed in an unrecorded gate work May 23. Dyn O Mite, trained by Keith Desormeaux, will be ridden by Jose Valdivia.

Others in the field include Brony Boy, who placed both starts at Golden Gate; Foxborough, third last out at Santa Anita; and first-time starters Gone Rogue and Falcons Fury. Jeanne B also is entered.

The wagering menu at Los Alamitos includes a 14 percent takeout pick five, 50-cent minimum, on races 1-5. The $2 pick six on the final six races is a traditional pick six with a 70-30 split (70 percent to six of six or carryover; 30 percent to consolations).