Movin North the Filly to Beat at Los Alamitos

The La Jolla Handicap and the Huntington Beach Stakes, both at 350 yards, will spotlight 2-year-old fillies and 3-year-old Cal-breds on Friday night’s 12-race card at Los Alamitos.

Movin North has never been off the board in five races and figures to be the filly to beat in the field of 10 for the La Jolla. The 2-year-old filly by Easy Dozen finished third in her first two starts. In her third start she showed amazing speed winning her trial for the Breeders Classic Far West Futurity in 17.61 seconds, fastest qualifying time for the Futurity.

Movin North was purchased privately by Bob and Frances Wieland. Movin North went on to win the Far West, and in her last start, the trials for the Ed Burke Memorial Futurity, she finished second by a nose but failed to qualify for the finals.

Movin North worked 12.4 seconds in preparation for the La Jolla and will have regular rider Jim Lewis up for the $10,000-added sprint.

The David Payne’s entry of Miss Missile Bug and Puppy Tac figure to receive strong support off their excellent form since joining all-time leading female trainer Connie Hall’s barn. Puppy Tac and Miss Missile Bug arrived in California as maidens, after six and seven starts respectively.

Puppy Tac was first to break her maiden and did it in style winning her qualifying heat for the Governor’s Cup Futurity in 17.69 seconds, qualifying for the finals. The daughter of Tolltac finished fifth in the finale and since has won the Pacific Handicap and finished second in the Ed Burke Memorial Futurity trials. She didn’t make the finals of the Ed Burke and has been idle since Oct. 10.

Miss Missile Bug made her West Coast debut a little over a month later than Puppy Tac with the same result, an impressive win. Miss Missile Bug ran away from a maiden field, sprinting 350 yards in 17.63 seconds. In two starts since she has a fifth and a second, both in futurity trials.

The Huntington Beach is restricted to Cal-breds and will have recent stakes winners Collectors Series and Bedadoc in the field of 10.

Collectors Series, one of the most consistent 3-year-olds on the grounds with four wins, three seconds and two thirds in 10 starts, defeated Bedadoc in the California Sires Derby on Oct. 27.

In the California Sires Derby, Collectors Series was all out at 400 yards to hold off the fast-charging Bedadoc. Tonight’s 350-yard distance could give the edge to the fast-breaking Collectors Series.

Bedadoc has a record of one win, seven seconds and two thirds in 13 starts. The son of Merridoc didn’t break his maiden until his victory in the San Luis Obispo on Nov. 4. The Dennis Ekins-trained roan is extra sharp right now and must be given strong consideration as he shoots for his second straight stakes win.