The GI Los Alamitos Winter Championship

2012 Champion Of Champions Winner Rylees Boy

The road the the 2013 Champion of Champions begins tonight at Los Alamitos Race Course with the running of the GI $171,300 Los Alamitos Winter Championship.

In addition to the purse and the GI win, the winner of tonight's Winter Championship will also earn a berth into the Champion of Champions (to be run in December).

A great field of nine older horses will sprint 400 yards in what looks to be a wide open event.  The fastest qualifier, Last To Fire will try to repeat his fast trial win from post position number nine. Multiple grade I winners Cold Cash 123, Jess You and I, Check My Thoughts, and Rylees Boy are just  some of the foes that will line up at the gate in race 9.

Pick four pools have been outstanding and there is also a nice pick six carryover that is worth taking a shot at. Let's get to the selections.

Race 1:  4-6-2
Race 2:  1-2-4
Race 3:  8-2-5
Race 4:  8-2-5  Correction 2-5-3
Race 5:  5-1-4
Race 6:  1-4-3
Race 7:  5-2-6
Race 8:  2-3-4
Race 9:  9-4-8

My Plays:

Race 1 - $1 Early Pick Four ($15):  4 / 1,2,4 / 1,2,5,7,8 / 2

Race 4 - $2 Pick Six ($48):  2 / 5 / 1,3,4 / 2,5 / 2,3 / 4,9

Race 6 - $1 Late Pick Four ($24):  1,3,4 / 2,5 / 2,3 / 4,9

Good Luck!

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Ronsepi Looks To Repeat Strong Win

Main Entrance to Los Alamitos Race Course

A big week of racing at Los Alamitos kicks off tonight with a nine-race card that features a competitive field of runners sprinting 350 yards in race 8. The field of six is led by Ronsepi who comes off a strong win against $50,000 claimers. The John Cooper trainee pulled away late in his last win at the shorter distance of 300 yards. He looked great and has two previous wins at this longer distance of 350 yards which suggests he will be a tough competitor once again.

Other horses to watch in tonight's featured allowance event are Mister Michael, First Black Wagon and Consider who all have previous experience in stakes races.

The week of racing features a pair of Grade I events that are sure to provided a look into how the year will shape up for the three-year-olds and older-horse divisions. The Grade I Winter Derby will be run this Saturday and The Grade I Winter Championship will be run on Sunday.

We ended last week with a pick-4 score, let's try to begin this week with another score. Let's get to the selections.

Race 1:  5-9-7
Race 2:  2-6-5
Race 3:  1-6-8
Race 4:  2-5-6
Race 5:  6-4-3
Race 6:  5-1-4
Race 7:  1-4-2
Race 8:  2-5-4
Race 9:  1-2-5

My Plays:

Race 1 - $1 Early Pick-4 ($12):  5 / 2,5,6 / 1,6,7,8 / 2

Race 6 - $1 Late Pick-4 ($36):  5 / 1,4 / ALL / 1,2,5

Key Singles:

Race 1:  #5 Sumart Tizzy ran too good to lose last out after a slow start. She rallied for second and can defeat this field with a good start. So far she has a third and second place finish in two local starts, maybe the third time is the charm.

Race 4:  #2 Shifty looked strong in his maiden-breaking win last out. Jockey Rodrigo Aceves looked like he had more horse in reserve and trainer Scott Willoughby brings this gelding back at a good level. I like the post position draw and look forward to another strong performance.

Race 6:  #5 Cajun Gent is making his first start since December 29 when he showed early pace and tired to a third place finish at this same level. I like that his 8-year-old pro was claimed by Hanson, who is winning at 24% with the first-off-the-claim angle. Cajun Gent ran great when Hanson had him in 2011 & 2012. He once had sub-21 second speed and if he decides to fire tonight, it might be all over from the start for the rest of the competition.

Let's try to get some winners. Good Luck!

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Jose Luis Delgadillo - New Jockey in the Room

Jose Luis, Karina (My Wife/His Sister) & Myself at Hollywood Park

I come from a family that had no connection to the world of horse racing. My father is a handicapper and fan of the sport, he brought me along to the track as a child and that is when i fell in love with horse racing.

In contrast, my now brother-in-law, apprentice jockey Jose Luis Delgadillo, was born into the world of horse racing.

I have had the pleasure of knowing the Delgadillo family for about seven years now. I met Jose Luis when he was ten-years-old and at that time he was just another kid with a dream, he wanted to follow in the footsteps of his dad.

There is his Dad Agapito Delgadillo with a winner at Stockton, Lil' Jose Luis in the Raiders cap & belt buckle.

He is the son of jockey Agapito Delgadillo who currently rides at Santa Anita Park in the Southern California circuit (he is having a great meet). His Dad began riding at a very young age and has ridden at tracks like Hipodromo De Las Americas, Caliente, Bay Meadows, Golden Gate, Pleasanton, Santa Rosa, Fresno, Stockton, Turf Paradise, Los Alamitos, Keeneland, Sunland, Zia Park, Albuquerque, Fairplex, Del Mar, Hollywood Park, and Santa Anita Park. (I might have missed some more).

Father & Son having fun and celebrating dinner after one of his Dad's wins.

Jose Luis traveled and grew up going to most of these race tracks along his Father. I asked him to write a small piece in his own words about his journey to becoming a jockey and the feeling of getting his first career win last Sunday.



Jose Luis: "Being a jockey has always been my dream, I love horses and horse racing.  I always wanted to be like my father, Jockey Agapito Delgadillo. My first step towards my dream was closer to reality once I turned fifteen.  My dad took me with him to El Paso TX.  While he was riding at Sunland Park I was galloping horses at a nearby ranch. After that I went back to California and got my galloper's license.

Jose Luis learned to gallop horses at a ranch in Texas. (His Mom went to visit him)

I galloped in Santa Anita Park, Hollywood Park and even got to gallop at Delmar.  It felt great knowing I was one step closer to my dream.  I then moved to San Francisco and was galloping at Golden Gate Fields and it seemed like I was ready and decided it was time to get my apprentice license.  I debuted at Portland meadows, although I didn’t get my win, I gained experience that I believe is helping me a lot now that I’m riding here at Golden Gate Fields.

Once he got his exercise rider's license, Jose Luis began working horses in Southern California (Del Mar)

Being a jockey is not easy, you are riding an animal that weights 10 times more than you. You also have to maintain a specific weight and as an apprentice jockey is even harder because we have to weigh less than a regular jockey.  We are also risking our lives out there.  I had my first spill two weeks ago and although I had already gone down while galloping, its nothing compared to when you’re actually riding in a race. Everything happens extremely fast. Thank God nothing major happened to me but it sure does hurt a lot. I was in pain and really sore for the next three days. Many asked me do you still want to ride, specially my mother, my answer was and will always be yes.  It hurts and yes it’s dangerous but the passion I have for horse racing is bigger than anything.

Jose Luis got his first career win at Golden Gate Fields.

 I got my first career win last Sunday at Golden Gate Fields and I have to say it was the best feeling ever.  When you really want something you have to work hard to accomplish it. Many would tell me that I was not going to make it, that I was taller than my father and it was going to be hard for me.  But there were also those people that believed in me like my parents and sisters. I never gave up and thanks to God, my dedication and to all the ones that supported me I have accomplished my goal. Of course this is just the beginning of my career, there are still many more goals to accomplish like making the Eclipse Awards, going to the Kentucky Derby, being leading jockey at Santa Anita Park and riding in the same race as my father.  I have been doing all this while still trying to finish my High School Diploma. Horse racing is my passion and as long as God lets me I will accomplish all my goals. "

His fellow Jockeys at Golden Gate gave him plenty of ice cold celebration baths after his win

I also got to ask Jose Luis a few more questions.

Me: How is it riding at Golden Gate in the same jockeys room where your Dad had good success?
Jose Luis: It's great because i have the same locker he used to have when he used to ride there and alot of the people around the track remember me when i was young. I also have the same valet and same agent Rogelio Olguin.

Me: I seen that Dennis Carr was very happy for you when you won.
JL: Yea he rode many races with my Dad so he was very happy for me as well as many of the other jockeys.

Me: Do you feel pressure now that you are riding?
JL: Yes, because many people always tell me that they like my Dad and that he rides good. So it feels good to be riding but I also want to be better than my Dad.

Me: Who is your favorite jockey other than your Dad?
JL: Joel Rosario

Me: Okay now for some non-racing questions. What is your favorite restaurant?
JL: Dave and Busters

Me: Do you have a girlfriend? (Ladies pay attention)
JL: Not right now but accepting applications. I love them all. Lol.

Me: What is your favorite sport other than Horse Racing?
JL: Soccer!

Me: What is your dream car?
JL: Corvette

Me: Who is your favorite Brother-In-Law?
JL: You!

Me: We have a pretty cool name huh?
JL: You got it!

That's a wrap.

Thanks Cuñado and hope many winners are coming your way. See you soon, stay safe!

You can follow Jose Luis Delgadillo on twitter @Jos3_Delgadilo

Give me a follow @LosPonies and also stay tuned to the #ABRV in 2013. Check out everything about America's Best Racing and my new gambling blog on followhorseracing.com

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Maiden Stakes Trials & $18,004 Pick-6 Carryover

A short week of racing at Los Alamitos Race Course concludes tonight (no racing tomorrow Sunday) with the running of The Maiden Stakes Trials.

A total of 42 runners will compete in five trials (races 5-9) for a spot to be in the gate on the Maiden Stakes final. The ten fastest qualifiers will come back for the $125,000 final at the distance of 350 yards.

In order to be eligible for these trials, horses needed to be maidens as of December 1 of 2012. So don't be surprised when you look down at the past performances and see that many of these runners are no longer maidens and actually have strong wins under their belts. Wins after that date are not counted.

Looking at the fields, there are some runners that have actually competed in Graded Stakes already. Nellie Delaney and Revv Me Up fit that bill. Look out for those runners tonight.

The pick fours pools have remained strong and the payouts have been excellent but there will be extra attention on the pick six tonight which has a carryover of $18,004. I will take a shot at it with a $48 play with three singles in my sequence. Let's get to the selections.

Race 1:  5-1-3
Race 2:  4-6-2
Race 3:  4-5-7
Race 4:  3-5-2
Race 5:  6-8-5
Race 6:  1-7-8
Race 7:  2-7-5
Race 8:  4-2-8
Race 9:  6-1-3

My Plays:

Race 1 - $1 Early Pick Four ($24):  5 / 2,4,6 / 4,5 / 1,2,3,5

Race 4 - $2 Pick Six ($48):  1,2,3,5 / 6 / 1,7,8 / 2 / 2,4 / 6

Race 6 - $1 Late Pick Four ($12): 1,7,8 / 2 / 2,4 / 1,6

Good Luck tonight! Stay tuned to my twitter: @LosPonies

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