San Onofre captures Los Angeles for Headley; Hollendorfer sends out a couple of horses to watch at Los Alamitos
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April 19th, 2016
LOS ALAMITOS NOTEBOOK
There was a single graded tilt during the opening week of racing at Los Alamitos.
Los Angeles S. (G3): Matson Racing’s SAN ONOFRE (Surf Cat) stalked the pace from the outside to the stretch and gamely inched clear late to post a one-length victory under Edwin Maldonado. The six-year-old gelding finished off 5 ½ furlongs on the fast main oval in a swift 1:02 for trainer Karen Headley.
Track Stats
From a total of 32 races held over the Southern California racetrack during the past week, favorites won at a 38 percent clip and the top two betting choices combined for 56 percent of the wins. Five races were won in wire-to-wire fashion (16 percent).
The dirt oval played fairly we think throughout the week, with a slight edge if any to runners tracking the pace a path or two off the rail. We did witness deep closers, pace pressers and early leaders come home with good energy, though. All five of the wire jobs came in sprint runs.
Meet Totals
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Races: |
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32 |
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Dirt: |
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32 |
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Favorites: |
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12 (38%) |
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2nd Choices: |
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6 (18%) |
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Dirt Wire: |
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5 (16%) |
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|
|
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HORSES TO WATCH
Thursday (4/14)
4TH – SORULLO (Matricule) took the lead prior to the turn for home and ran a winning race in defeat after shipping in from Turf Paradise. The Jose Avalos trainee will be very tough next time with even slight improvement in his comeback.
6TH – David Jacobson’s SECRET CHORDS (Sharp Humor) took a short lead in midstretch and held off a late danger en route to a nice score beneath Kent Desormeaux. The four-year-old filly appears to be in a good form cycle after her last pair of outings.
7TH – Peter Eurton’s HOWDY (Sunbardan) swept to the lead in the lane and powered home like a good thing, topping a few solid contenders in his second straight victory. The consistently good colt could try stakes foes in the near future with slight improvement.
Friday (4/15)
7TH – CINDY’S SECRET (Sea of Secrets) showed no signs of rust in this dash, starting fast start and never looking back en route to a fine sprint tally. The Jerry Wallace trainee toppled a useful field and could be in for a solid second half of 2016 with expected growth.
Saturday (4/16)
3RD – We had a hunch TIZ A TOMMY TOWN (Speightstown) would run a nice one off the layoff, though we did not expect the Jerry Hollendorfer trainee to win with such ease under Mario Gutierrez. The Kentucky-bred three-year-old made easy work of a decent field on paper and will loom large with winners in her comeback effort.
4TH – STREET SURRENDER (Street Boss) burned a lot of money when second in this small field, but the sophomore lass still ran a big one in a clear runner-up finish. The sophomore lass looks like a fine prospect going forward with more seasoning.
Sunday (4/17)
2ND – The Jose Lopez-trained HIDE MY HEART (Artie Schiller) forced the pace from the start and took command with a big late run to win this one going away beneath Vinnie Bednar. The five-year-old mare would be tough right back at this meeting with anything similar.
3RD – TAMAN GUARD (Midnight Lute) was pounded at the windows for this debut run and we saw why as the Hollendorfer pupil left little doubt, posting a facile 4 ½-length triumph. The gelded sophomore topped a potentially useful cast and could evolve into any kind for a top outfit.
5TH – WESTBROOK (Congrats) got a tough rail trip from the break, but still overcame a pair of well-backed foes in posting a nice debut score for conditioner Mike Puype. The three-year-old is one we will keep an eye on going into his debut with winners.
A Look Ahead
Saturday features the $200,000 Great Lady M (G2) for distaffers.
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