Going Places tries to hold on to lead

Going Places, who showed great speed but no stick while racing at Hollywood Park and Santa Anita, will drop in class in the first race Sunday night at Los Alamitos.

Now owned and trained by Paul Aguirre, the 3-year-old Sea Of Secrets gelding, who couldn’t hold a five-length lead against $25,000 maidens on April 24 in Inglewood, tumbles to the $5,000 maiden level in the contest at 4 1/2 furlongs.

Dihigi Gladney will ride Going Places, who set the pace at 44-1 against open maidens in his debut as a juvenile last May 20 before faltering to sixth.

If Going Places falters again, there are two other droppers from the major circuit who will be making their first start at Los Alamitos.

Cobra Amigo, a 3-year-old Cobra King gelding who has yet to hit the board in eight starts against better competition, takes the plunge for owner-trainer Ricardo Zamora. The California-bred will be ridden by Victor Navarro.

The other dropper is Mistic Miller, a 4-year-old Unbridled’s Love gelding who has finished in front of two horses in five starts against $25,000 maidens. Joel Cruz will ride for K&K Stables and trainer Silverio Martinez.

The picks: 1. Going Places. 2. With Devotion. 3. Oro Desert. 4. Thunderdice. 5. Marshal Lucky. 6. Corona Starlight. 7. Bal Week. 8. First Down Leroy. 9. Ought To Smile First.

Four! An early pick four using Going Places in the first, With Devotion, My Lifes Luv and Dashing With Class in the second, Our Friend Thurman, Oro Desert and Excessive Danger in the third and Tol Check, Thunderdice and Tucker Him Out in the fourth.

Shot in the dark: Sanger Sally could fire off the bench in the sixth race. Carlos Huerta will be aboard the 4-year-old Separtist filly for owner-trainer Dean Frey in the $5,000 claimer at 300 yards.

bob.mieszerski@latimes.com