Racing! Once On Whiskey wins Los Alamitos Derby

Hello, my name is John Cherwa and welcome back to our horse racing newsletter as we head into the final day of this Los Alamitos meeting.

If seems as if this Los Alamitos Derby was disappointing for the favorites but it was a solid for one of the more quirky betting strategies, the “other Baffert.” Trainer Bob Baffert often jokes about the “other Baffert” even though the “main Baffert” wins more often than not.

But, why listen to me? Eric (Manny) Sondheimer was at the track and you should read his account. So, just click here.

Los Alamitos thoroughbred preview

The final day of the Los Alamitos summer meet has no races longer than 5 ½ furlongs and seven of the nine are claiming races. First post as 1 p.m. The feature looks to be the sixth, a 5 ½ furlong maiden special weight for fillies and mares 3 and up. It should go about 3:30 p.m. There are six horses entered.

The favorite, at 2-1, is Colonel Power for trainer John Sadler and jockey Asa Espinoza. She’s New York-bred that has run only one race, a third-place finish on July 4 at Los Alamitos. Quick turnaround. But ten again, the second favorite, for Baffert and Martin Garcia, Jade Dee is 5-2. She finished her debut in sixth, in the same race as Colonel Power.

The fillies are going to be nurtured along with decent but not huge purchase prices. Colonel Power was bought for $180,000 and Jade Dee for $270,000.

There is one filly that is tough to figure out. Shaken Memories is at 3-1 but she hasn’t run for a year.

Here are the field sizes, in order: 6, 5, 6, 7, 5, 6, 7, 6, 8.

Big Races review

A look at graded stakes or races worth more $100,000 or more on Saturday.

Belmont: $100,000 Rockville Centre Stakes, NY-bred 2 year olds, 6 furlongs. Winner: La Fuerza ($2.90)

Delaware: Grade 3 $200,000 Kent Stakes, 3 year olds, 1 1/8 miles on turf. Winner: Golden Brown ($33.20)

Woodbine: $100,000 Victoria Stakes, 2 year olds, 5 ½ furlongs. Winner: Big Drink of Water ($22.60)

Delaware: Grade 2 $750,000 Delaware Handicap, fillies and mares 3 and up, 1 ¼ miles. Winner: Elate ($3.20)

Belmont: $150,000 Forbidden Apples Stakes, 4 and up, 1 mile on turf. Winner: Voodoo Song ($12.00)

Indiana Grand: $100,000 Mari Hulman George Stakes, fillies and mares 3 and up, 1 1/16 miles. Winner: Pinch Hit ($5.60)

Indiana Grand: $100,000 Michael G. Schaefer Memorial Stakes, 3 and up, 1 mile and 70 yards. Winner: ioneer Spirit ($6.00)

Los Alamitos: Grade 3 $150,000 Los Alamitos Derby, 3 year olds,1 1/8 miles. Winner: Once On Whiskey ($16.60)

Indiana Grand: $100,000 Indiana General Assembly Distaff, fillies and mares 4 and up, 1 1/16 miles on turf. Winner: Lovely Loyree ($14.00)

Indiana Grand: $100,000 Warrior Veterans Stakes, 4 and up, 1 1/16 miles on turf. Winner: Dot Matrix ($5.60)

Indiana Grand: Grade 3 $200,000 Indiana Oaks, fillies, 3 years old, 1 1/16 miles. Winner: Talk Veuve to Me ($2.20)

Indiana Grand: Grade 3 $500,000 Indiana Derby, 3 year olds, 1 1/16 miles. Winner: Axelrod ($26.80)

Big races preview

A look at graded stakes or races worth more $100,000 or more on Sunday. All times PDT:

1:46 Belmont: $100,000 Lynbrook Stakes, NY-bred fillies 2 years old, 6 furlongs. Favorite: Tossup (7-2)

2:00 Woodbine: Grade 3 $125,000 Ontario Matron Stakes, fillies and mares 3 and up, 1 1/16 miles. Favorite: Gamble’s Ghost (2-1)

4:05 Lone Star: $100,000 Texas Futurity, fillies 2 years old, 5 furlongs. Favorite: Silvercents (5-2)

5:01 Lone Star: $100,000 Texas Futurity, 2 year olds, 5 furlongs. Favorite: Wakefield (2-1)

Jose Contreras LRC pick of the day

EIGHTH RACE: No. 4 Devils Informer (4-1)

He broke a bit slow with his head high and was bumped back soon after the start. He then recovered into fourth early on but appeared a bit rank and difficult to ride going around the turn. He was closing the gap late on the leaders and finished a better-than-looked fourth ten days ago. I like that he’s drawn outside a couple of speed rivals and he should put up a big effort with a clean start.

Saturday’s result: As the second favorite, Draft Pick was in front of more highly touted horses, Ax Man and Blended Citizen, entering the stretch but couldn’t hold off Once On Whiskey to finish second.

Jose Contreras is an excellent handicapper and well known on social media and familiar to racing fans watching on TVG. You can follow him on twitter at @losponies or check him out at his website.

Ed Burgart LA play of the day

FOURTH RACE: No. 1 Favorite Spectacle (5-2)

I liked him last Sunday when he was knocked off stride sharply when veering out at the start. Gelding finished with plenty of interest in better-than-looked fourth-place outing. He met much stronger in first three starts and goes for the high-percentage combination of jockey Eduardo Nicasio and trainer Christopher O'Dell.

Final thoughts

Still looking to jump the circulation of this newsletter. Can’t beat the price. If you like it, tell someone. If you don’t like it, then you’re probably not reading this. Either way, send to a friend and just have them click here and sign up. Remember, it’s free, and all we need is your email, nothing more.

Any thoughts, drop me an email at johnacherwa@gmail.com or feed my ego by following me on Twitter @jcherwa

And now the stars of the show, Saturday’s results and Sunday’s entries.

CHIEFS LIL PEARL stalked off the rail, bid outside the pacesetter on the turn, took a short lead in upper stretch, inched away under left handed urging in deep stretch and just held. COALINGA HILLS stalked outside then off the rail on the turn and four wide into the stretch and finished willingly to just miss. MAGICALCHIC bobbled in a bit of a slow start, saved ground chasing the pace, came out a bit in the stretch and split horses late for the show. MIS VIOLA sped to the early lead, set the pace inside, dueled on the turn, fought back in the stretch and weakened late. LUCKY LULA chased outside a rival, lugged out on the turn and into the stretch, drifted to the inside in the drive then came out late and lacked a rally. JUST BE HELD stalked outside, went three deep on the turn and into the stretch and weakened.

SHEZA FACTOR had speed outside a rival then angled in and set a pressured pace inside, came out into the stretch, inched away, drifted out despite right handed whipping in the drive but won clear. LEGENDARY PARFAIT stalked early then pressed the pace outside the winner, angled in off that one's heels in midstretch and was clearly second best. MIDNIGHT CROSSING chased outside, came four wide into the stretch, drifted in some but gained the show. STAR OF KOBOL stalked between foes then off the rail, went outside a rival on the turn and just off the fence into and through the stretch and lacked a rally. MIDNIGHT HUNCH between horses early, stalked off the rail, went three deep on the turn and into the stretch and did not rally/. MADERA JUBILEE settled three deep then off the rail, continued outside a rival on the turn and into the stretch and lacked a further response. QUEEN DREAMER had speed inside then saved ground stalking the pace and weakened in the stretch. CALI ROCKS saved ground chasing the pace, continued inside into the stretch and had little left for the drive. PROUD DREAM fractious in the post parade, broke a bit slowly, settled just off the rail to the stretch and failed to menace.

CHRISTY JACKSON dueled inside, fought back on the turn and through the stretch and gamely prevailed under urging. DEE WAY TO GO dueled three deep then outside the winner leaving the turn and through a stiff drive and was outgamed late. GET YOURSELF HOME stalked three deep then outside on the turn and three wide into the stretch and bested the others. INNYMINNIEMINEYMOE settled off the rail then a bit off the fence on the turn, came out in the stretch and improved position. DIAMOND PROOF stalked off the rail then angled in on the backstretch and saved ground and did not rally. HEARTOFTHETEMPLE dueled between horses, dropped back leaving the turn and weakened. LUCKY FEELIN stalked between horses then a bit off the rail, fell back on the turn, came out into the stretch and had little left for the drive.

SMART RACHEL had speed five wide then dueled three deep, battled outside a rival into the turn, kicked clear off the rail, drifted inward in the drive and drew off under urging. SPACERIKA chased just off the rail then three deep on the turn and into the stretch and bested the rest. I ADORE YOU settled outside on the backstretch and turn chasing the pace, also came three wide into the stretch and edged a rival for the show. MOLLY GOT EVEN had speed between foes then dueled between rivals, stalked a bit off the rail on the turn then between horses leaving the turn, had the rider lose the whip into the stretch and was edged for third. CHEYENNE DANCER had speed between horses then stalked inside on the backstretch and turn and into the stretch and weakened. SADDLE CLUB bobbled at the start, settled a bit off the rail then outside a rival into the stretch and did not rally. ANNITASHEAVEN saved ground stalking the pace, was in a bit tight nearing midway on the turn, came out leaving the turn and into the stretch and weakened. MERGIE TROID had good early speed between horses then stalked between rivals, angled in leaving the turn and also weakened. LALA FLEUR broke a bit slowly, settled just off the rail to the stretch and lacked a further response. WEST COAST CHATTER settled off the rail then briefly between foes leaving the backstretch, continued just off the fence into and on the turn and had nothing left for the stretch.

WICKED STORM bobbled at the start, was three deep early then stalked outside a rival, bid outside the pacesetter into the stretch, took a short lead in midstretch and drew clear under urging. HOT AUTUMN also bobbled at the start, saved ground stalking thee pace, came out a furlong from the wire and went outside a rival late for the place. LOVE A HONEYBADGER sped to the early lead, set the pace inside, fought back along the rail in the stretch, was not a match for the winner in the final furlong and just lost the place. PRINCESS DORIAN stalked outside then alongside a rival, came three wide into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. VENEZUELAN GOLD pulled between horses then a bit off the rail, steadied briefly while pulling along the inside into the turn, came out into the stretch, was between horses in the drive and did not rally. ALPENHORN refused to break with the field then swerved inward when she did come out and was pulled up. The stewards conducted an inquiry into the start before ruling ALPENHORN was the cause of her own trouble.

GO GHETTO chased three deep on the backstretch and turn and four wide into the stretch, bid outside foes to gain the lead a furlong out and held gamely under some left handed urging. GENERAL MACH FOUR had good early speed and dueled between horses, fought back between foes then off the rail in deep stretch and continued gamely late. PICK ONE stalked a bit off the rail, bid toward the inside in the stretch and edged a rival for the show. QUANTUM FORCE dueled three deep to the stretch, was between rivals nearing the eighth pole and was edged for third. ATOMIC ACTION chased outside then four wide on the backstretch and three deep on the turn and into the stretch and lacked a rally. SPIRIT WORLD angled in and saved ground chasing the pace, continued inside on the turn and into the stretch and could not offer the necessary response. PS BETTIN ON YOU chased between horses on the backstretch and turn and into the stretch and also lacked the needed late kick. ZEPPO had speed inside to press the pace on the backstretch and turn and weakened in the final furlong. PROUDTOBESICILIAN chased between horses on the backstretch and most of the turn and gave way.

TENTHOUSANDREASONS stalked or pressed the pace three deep then four wide on the backstretch, bid again outside the runner-up into the stretch, took the lead and inched away under left handed urging and won clear under steady handling late. ANGELINA'S HEAVEN sped to the early lead, set a pressured pace between foes then off the rail, drifted out some and fought back into the stretch and held second. SWALLOWS INN GAL stalked between horses then outside a rival into the stretch and bested the rest. REINAHERMOSA settled inside then a bit off the rail, came three deep into the stretch and improved position. MISTY SLEW chased between horses then a bit off the rail on the second turn and into the stretch and did not rally. PIRATE FLAG angled in and saved ground pressing then stalking the pace to the stretch and weakened in the drive. MAJESTIC DIVA settled off the pace three deep, continued three wide into and on the second turn and four wide into the stretch and did not rally. FELLINA pressed the pace three deep then between foes, stalked off the rail on the second turn, came three wide into the stretch and weakened. WARRIOR MOM pulled hard along the inside, saved ground chasing the pace, dropped back on the second turn and gave way.

ONCE ON WHISKEY a step slow to begin, stalked three deep on the first turn then outside a rival to the stretch, came out in midstretch and rallied under urging to get up in the final stride. DRAFT PICK stalked inside then a bit off the rail, bid between horses on the backstretch and second turn, took a short lead while being floated out some into the stretch, inched away in the drive, drifted inward in the final furlong and was caught on the line. AX MAN sped to the early lead, set the pace inside, dueled along the rail, came out a bit into the stretch, fought back in upper stretch, drifted back to the inside in the final furlong and just held third. KING CAUSE broke out and bobbled, stalked outside a rival then bid three deep on the backstretch and second turn, was floated out some into the stretch and was edged for the show. BLENDED CITIZEN between horses early, stalked a bit off the rail then inside leaving the backstretch and on the second turn and weakened in the drive. QUARTER MILE SPLIT HAND TIMED.

TYPHOON HARRY pressed the pace outside a rival then stalked alongside a foe, re-bid outside the pacesetter on the second turn, took a short lead nearing the stretch, fought back under urging inside the runner-up to regain the lead in deep stretch and gamely prevailed. SUPREME GIANT stalked between horses then three deep to the stretch, bid outside the winner to take the lead in the drive and was outgamed late. BRAG DUDE dueled inside then inched clear a bit off the rail to set the pace, battled inside again on the second turn and into the stretch and held third. ODYSSEY EXPLORER angled in and chased between horses then a bit off the rail on the second turn and outside a rival into the stretch and was edged for the show. CAMPS BAY stalked inside, split horses on the backstretch, continued a bit off the rail, had the rider lose the whip three wide into the stretch and lacked a rally. POWERFUL THIRST chased three deep, came four wide into the stretch and did not rally. WRITE ME A SONG four wide into the first turn, angled in and stalked outside a rival then a bit off the rail and weakened in the stretch. SKAGIT RIVER dropped back and settled off the rail, came four wide into the stretch and was not a threat. CASH PILOT settled outside a rival then chased inside, came out into the stretch and gave way. ANGRY BOBBY five wide into the first turn, angled in between horses then stalked inside on the backstretch, dropped back on the second turn, gave way and was eased up late.