Something for everyone on opening day card; traditional pick 6 is back

In terms of national significance, the Los Alamitos winter meet is centered around major races for 2-year-olds on Saturday. The Grade 1 Starlet and Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity expect to attract Breeders’ Cup runners-up Donna Veloce and Anneau d’Or, respectively.

In terms of daily amusement, the all-dirt seven-day Los Alamitos meet will include programs similar to the opening-day card on Friday. It’s a no-frills program with relevance centered mostly on horseplayers’ personal bottom lines.

There is something for everyone – from apparent slam-dunk favorite Fast as Cass in the first race at 1 p.m., to career maiden Harliss trying to carry his speed in the eighth and final, a maiden-claiming sprint that is his 11th start. Harliss is no cinch.

Between the first and last races, fans will become reacquainted with the nuances of Los Alamitos, including a historically bias-free surface and betting menu with the circuit’s only remaining traditional pick 6. The payout structure allocates 70 percent of the net pool to six winners (or carryover), and 30 percent goes to consolations. Los Alamitos continues to eschew the single-ticket jackpot.

The $2 pick 6 covers the final six races daily, and a 50-cent pick 5 on the first five races daily has a 14 percent takeout rate. A pair of $1 pick 4s with a 23.68 percent takeout, same as the pick 6, is offered daily on races 2-5 and the final four.

Of course, wagering options are relevant only if bettors can find winners, and the past four December meets at Los Al have been true to form. Average field size is 7.4; combined win rate for favorites is 35.9 percent. The opener Friday includes a potential pick-five single.

Race-1 favorite Fast as Cass is rock solid in the $12,500 claiming nonwinners-of-two mile. Fast as Cass is the fastest on figures, with proven form at Los Alamitos. His trainer Steve Knapp is 7 for 12 with Los Al chalk the past five years.

The race-6 feature is problematic, because the best horse has sketchy form. Fillies and mares sprint six furlongs in the entry-level allowance/optional $40,000 claiming race, and Love a Honeybadger may or may not be the horse she was a year ago.

Love a Honeybadger has finished last in both starts since returning from a layoff. But the front-runner drops Friday from a second-level allowance for trainer Peter Miller, and could be gone. If not, 2-for-2 comebacker Miss Fia would get first run. Tijori, Time for Ebby, Donut Girl, Silken Spy, and Edna also are entered.