Surface, race shape may favor Pacific Strike

CYPRESS, Calif. – It’s all about the surface for turf-to-dirt Whirling and Pacific Strike, leading contenders Friday in the race-5 allowance feature at Los Alamitos.

While it is uncertain if Whirling, Pacific Strike, and others will like the dirt surface in the one-mile race for fillies and mares, they certainly will race Friday on footing completely different from any they raced over on the dirt main track at Del Mar.

Trainer Peter Eurton sends out Pacific Strike and Chickatini.

“Los Alamitos is a different cat altogether,” Eurton said. “It’s a tighter track, and [Pacific Strike] has trained really well. She likes that tight surface.”

Pacific Strike, a closer whose last eight starts were on turf, is a live longshot against front-running stablemate Chickatini, potential pacesetter Just a Smidge, outsider Online Request, and potential favorite Whirling. Five were entered in the first-level allowance.

Los Alamitos opened Sept. 6 following a summer of racing and training over a slow Del Mar surface. The difference between tracks is extreme. At Del Mar, the fastest dirt mile was 1:36.94 in a stakes win by Tatters to Riches. At Los Alamitos, four of the first seven dirt miles were faster, including three at lower levels.

Another difference is competition. Eurton went 4 for 42 at Del Mar. At Los Alamitos, Chickatini and Pacific Strike will try to add to his opening-week 2-for-6 total.

“It just shows you it’s a little easier to win [at Los Alamitos] than Del Mar,” he said.

Eurton said dirt front-runner Chickatini and turf closer Pacific Strike are “equal as far as talent level.”

“Chickatini is a speed horse that seems to run better on the lead,” he said. “That doesn’t mean we’re going to the lead; there are other speed horses. But it looks like it sets up really well for Pacific Strike.”

He might be right. In addition to Chickatini, sprinter Just a Smidge should produce speed along with Online Request. Pacific Strike could get a beneficial scenario for her rally. Los Alamitos played fair opening week at a mile – two winners led wire to wire, five others pressed or stalked.

The horse to beat Friday is the Richard Mandella-trained Whirling, whose maiden win second time out on dirt at Santa Anita was followed by two respectable efforts on turf. Her sixth last out was better than it appears. She did not break well, unleashed a middle move, and flattened out.

In the race-7 supporting feature, a $25,000 claiming starter-allowance mile, Girl Downstairs is expected to start favored based on a romping turf win last out. Girl Downstairs has won three races on turf, three on dirt. For her, it seems any footing will do.