LOS ALAMITOS : Court Of Appeal Battles Alfa Star in Feature Race

Chris and Sara Bardis’ Court Of Appeal, the top trotting mare on the West Coast, could score her third straight win when she tackles a field of six in the $15,000 Invitational Handicap Trot feature Friday night at Los Alamitos.

Alfa Star is the obvious one to beat in the eighth-race main event, with Sure Fact rounding out the major contention.

First post time Friday night will be 7:30, with early bird wagering from 11:00 a.m. until 5 p.m.

In post position order, the field for the $15,000 main attraction lines up as follows: Swiss Connection, Joe Anderson in the race bike; Thadrow, Steve Desomer; Supernal, Jack Olsen; Sure Fact, D. R. Ackerman; Jigglin Joe, Joe Light-hill; Alfa Star, Jim Lackey; and Court Of Appeal, Jim Grundy.

Reined and trained by Jim Grundy, Court Of Appeal has been impressive in her first two outings since August. The 4-year-old daughter of Big Sur has won both her races in almost identical fashion with Grundy getting the mare to the lead just before the 3/8, moderating the pace through the middle half clips, then jetting home with plenty left in reserve.

Court Of Appeal took her foes to task two weeks ago with a track record tying performance. She finished in front by 1 3/4 lengths in a time of 1:59 1/5, a mark that equaled her own track record for 4-year-old trotting mares. On Friday, Court Of Appeal, starting in the number 7 post position, faces an old nemesis, Alfa Star.

Jim Lackey will again be at the controls of Alfa Star, the 4-year-old son of Hunters Star, who has been victorious six times this year in 19 starts. Last Friday, Alfa Star cruised home with plenty left in reserve to win a race a half length in 1:59 3.5.