New Year's Eve at Los Alamitos

After last night's opening night cut short, we have a full 10 race card scheduled for tonight. Special first post is set for 5pm for Saturdays starting with tonight. The early pick 4 consists of field sizes of 10,7,7,and 8 horse fields. Let's get to our pick 4 play for tonight:

Race 1: We are going two deep to start with #1 dropping in class to the bottom and hailing from strong connections and owner of los al Dr. Ed Allred. Also using #8 who I loved last time out off the layoff with a strong drill. He had some trouble out the gate last time and now switches to a more agressive rider out the gate and should improve second off the layoff. (1,8)

Race 2: #5 seems like the lone speed in this thoroughbred event and should control the pace. However, I also like #3 which is dropping and shows a bullet work since his last race and is making his second start at los alamitos. (3,5)

Race 3: I feel this is the most wide open of the pick four races and I am going 4 deep to cover my ticket. #1 comes off a stong win at longer distance and gets the inside draw. #3 is the deserving favorite off the strong runner up effort last time out. Were also throwing in #5 which come off two back to back wins which looked sharp. Confident class hike by strong connections. Closing out this race is #6 which made a stong closing kick to win last time out by a nose despite lugging in. (1,3,5,6)

Race 4: Finishing out our pick four with a duet. #1 comes second off a layoff and this slightly longer distance should fit this 3yo daughter of first down dash much better than her last shorter trip. We are also going to throw in #6 who closed with a rush last out after breaking slow to finish second beaten a neck. With a sharp break and an improve effort second off the layoff puts this gelding in the mix. (1,6)

Ticket recap ($32): 1,8/3,5/1,3,5,6/1,6

Give a follow on twitter @LosPonies for updates.

Good Luck!

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Foggy Night Cancels Card

Opening night card last night got kicked off the new season at Los Alamitos with a very dense foggy night but before the first race went off the fog was already pretty bad. They completed the early pick four (which paid very good) and then decided to call off the rest of the card (races 5 thru 10) due to fog. Let's recap the winners:

Race 1: $10.60
Race 2: $7.00
Race 3: $3.40
Race 4: $20.60

Winning pick 4 payout $953.20!

Great pay off considering there was a third choice winning the first race, second choice winning the second race, and an odds on favorite winning the third race.

Check back later today for my pick 4 selections for tonight.

Follow me on twitter for updates @LosPonies

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Opening Night! 2011-2012 season Early Pick 4

It is Friday december 30th and it is opening night of the new racing season at Los Alamitos Race Course. The best bet in night racing is definitely the pick 4's here at los alamitos with both the early and late pick 4's averaging some great pool sizes. What I love most is that you don't need much more than a couple beaten favorites and that is enough to trigger some juicy payoffs. Without further delay let's get to my pick 4 play for tonight's card. Its a small, affordable ticket only $24.

Race 1: I am gonna go two deep to start off the 1st leg. Using #3 which is only making his second start and takes a class drop for past season leading trainer Paul Jones. In addition were going to throw in #6 which is getting a barn change and switching to a 21% percent trainer last season and is also dropping in class and his race two back fits very well. (3,6)

Race 2: This 4 1/2 furlong event does not have some defined speed but I will go 3 deep here. Will use #1 which seems to be with the best speed of the bunch and also has the rail draw which should allow him to out break the field and establish control of the rail. Also using #2 which seems to have enough position speed to stalk the pace and grind late. Finally were gonna use # 3 which showed a closing kick last time out and now gets the services of hot-riding Cheryl Charlton. She has been riding lights out for trainer Keith Craigmyle. (1,2,3)

Race 3: Were going two deep in this race. #5 is coming off a freshning and comes into the race dropping in class from a futurity trial. Great connections, freshening, class drop, all systems go. Also throwing into our ticket #7 which showed great improvement last time out with a good break and his number makes him dangerous right back with his ouside post. (5,7)

Race 4: To close out our pick 4 we are going two deep. #4 is coming fresh from a break into this race from a very powerfull barn. He is dropping in class and shows a bullet workout last time out which indicates he's ready to fire a good one. Closing out our ticket will be #8 which is only making his second start and gets a good outside post. He got bet down first time out and should improve tonight. (4,8)

Ticket recap ($24): 3,6/1,2,3/5,7/4,8

Good luck!.
I will be live on track at Los Alamitos tonight give me a follow on twitter @LosPonies for any changes, on site paddock picks, and any live value plays.

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2011 Champion of Champions - Los Alamitos

The 2011 Champion of Champions ( GI $750,000) capped off another leading trainer title for Paul Jones. He send out Good Reason SA to a win in a very close photo finish. Eduardo Nicasio was aboard for the upset ( $32.20 win). Check out the live video I shot by the finish line.

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Chasing the Carryover

I'm back blogging about my favorite thing in the world. Horse Racing. The sight and sounds of the horses. The rising sun in the morning workouts and the thrills of watching the horses come down the stretch in the afternoon. Nothing much more beautiful or entertaining than that.
Unless of course I take down the big pick six carry over at Santa Anita today. The only "single" I have today is in the last leg the 8th race #2. Lots of trouble last time. Clean trip today and should win. I'm off now to handicap the entire card today as I am live on site at Santa anita. Good luck.

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