Middle posts perform well, Semper Fortis among horses to watch at Los Alamitos

LOS ALAMITOS NOTEBOOK

There was no graded racing during the opening weekend at Los Alamitos.

Track Stats

From a total of 34 races at the Southern California racetrack during the past week, favorites won at a 32 percent clip and the top two betting choices combined for 70 percent of the wins. Seven races were won in wire-to-wire fashion (21 percent).

Speed was best on the main oval on Sunday when a trio of winners led throughout -- only four others did so during the first three days of the racing week. Of the seven wire-to-wire wins, four occurred in route attempts.

Being a few paths off the rail seems best, even with the results on Sunday. From Thursday-through-Saturday, stalkers and closers dominated and horses breaking from posts 4-6 accounted for 17 of the 25 winners (68 percent).

In addition, not a single winner broke from the rail until Sunday, when four achieved success breaking from the innermost post position.

Meet Totals

HORSES TO WATCH

Thursday (12/3)

3RD – GOLDRUSHCAT (Broken Vow) showed speed from the rail and finished a brave second in her debut offering for trainer Mark Glatt. The two-year-old filly was very game in coming back after being confronted in the lane, and we think she will graduate before long with seasoning.

5^TH – Peter Miller’s ROCKANTHAROS (Kantharos) dueled to late stretch and finished a nice third in her first outing. The two-year-old filly went off a nice price in a fairly solid field and looms large in her subsequent outing with a forward move.

7^TH – UNFORGETTABLE U (Tale of the Cat) took the lead approaching the turn for home and dominated her foes to the wire, posting a 9 ½-length tally. The Richard Baltas trainee clocked six panels in a wicked 1:08 3/5 and looks like a nice prospect going forward.

Friday (12/4)

6^TH – GATO DOLCE (Candy Ride) didn’t impact the winner but rallied for a clear second-place finish in his second career outing for Richard Mandella. The juvenile colt showed improvement off his latest and appears headed in the right direction.

Saturday (12/5)

1ST – BIJOUX (Broken Vow) handled the dirt well after making her five attempts on the lawn and may have found a new home for trainer John Sadler. The four-year-old filly was not claimed out of the maiden tally and could be a contender right back with winners.

2^ND – SEMPER FORTIS (Distorted Humor) returns to the list after a big late run produced an allowance win, his second straight. The two-year-old colt proved capable of handling two turns and remains an intriguing prospect with ability.

5^TH – LAOBAN (Uncle Mo) showed marked improvement in the maiden test for Eric Guillot, opening a huge lead late only to be run down in the closing stages. The juvenile colt looks like a big contender in his comeback with an even slight move forward.

Sunday (12/6)

3RD – We liked KELBAKER (Tiz Wonderful) in her second lifetime run and the sophomore filly led throughout in a nice tally for trainer Peter Miller. The winner ran a solid time for the level and could continue to show more off the confidence booster.

5^TH – A change in tactics paid off for the Mark Glatt-trained JONNY’S CHOICE (Unusual Heat), who went last-to-first with a strong late move beneath Santiago Gonzalez. The six-year-old gelding likes it here and we love the versatility he showed in this heat.

9^TH – PURSUIT (Mizzen Mast) was never getting to the winner but did come from far back to be a clear second, and the Peter Eurton pupil should improve off the performance. The two-year-old colt handled two turns well in his debut for a barn that’s better with experienced horses.

A Look Ahead

The $300,000 Starlet S. (G1) for two-year-old fillies tops Saturday’s action at Los Alamitos.