Trapalanda gets class test on short rest

CYPRESS, Calif. – The heat wave that led to the cancellation of six races at Los Alamitos last Friday has given Trapalanda a chance at a second victory at the three-week summer meeting.

Trapalanda won a starter allowance at a mile on June 30. The 4-year-old gelding was not entered in an allowance race with a $40,000 claiming option that was one of the canceled races. When the race was offered again for Thursday’s program, Trapalanda was part of the reconstituted field.

“We decided to take a shot,” trainer and co-owner Reed Saldana said.

Trapalanda is part of a field of seven that includes the two principal runners entered last Friday – Aquila and Ike.

The optional claimer is race 7 on an eight-race program at Los Alamitos on Thursday. The summer meeting continues through Sunday. Del Mar opens its summer meeting on July 18.

KEY CONTENDERS

Trapalanda, by Slew’s Tiznow
Last 3 Beyers: 82-86-76

◗ Saldana admits Trapalanda will face a class test on Thursday and must improve to be a factor.

“It will be challenging,” he said. “If I wait until Del Mar, it will be more of a challenge.”

◗ Saldana and co-owner Leopoldo Urbina claimed Trapalanda for $16,000 from a second-place finish at a mile at Santa Anita on May 18. In the June 30 starter allowance race, Trapalanda was always near the front under jockey Alonso Quinonez and won by 1 1/4 lengths as the 6-5 favorite.

“He came out of it like he hadn’t ran,” Saldana said. “We decided we’d take a shot at it. Alonso said he couldn’t stop the horse after the race.

“He ate his feed that night. I don’t like running horses [back] that quick, but the way he came out of it we don’t have to ship and worry about that stuff. I think he’ll be fine.”

◗ Trapalanda runs near the front and could have the lead.

“He doesn’t need the lead,” Saldana said. “This track plays good for stalkers or horses near the lead.”

Aquila, by Union Rags
Last 3 Beyers: 74-74-88

◗ Aquila will race as a gelding for the first time on Thursday in his first race since a fifth in an optional claimer against 3-year-olds at Santa Anita on April 8. Trainer Simon Callaghan said last week that Aquila is “more focused” since being gelded.

◗ In March, Aquila was sixth in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes in his only stakes appearance.

Ike, by Paynter
Last 3 Beyers: 75-86-79

◗ Trained by Bob Baffert, Ike was second in the Northern Spur Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Oaklawn Park on April 14 and was third in an optional claimer at six furlongs at Santa Anita on June 23.

◗ The additional six days between starts from last week could work in favor of Ike. Baffert said recently he thinks Ike will be more effective at a longer distance than the recent sprint.