LOS ALAMITOS : Raging Charger Heads Talented Field for Feature

Raging Charger, who finished a close second in his 1990 debut two weeks ago, heads a field of eight sprinters in tonight’s feature at Los Alamitos Race Course.

The 350-yard main event features 3-year-old and older horses racing for a $16,000 claiming price.

Here’s how they’ll line up (from the rail out with riders): Ah Wilderness, Eddie Garcia; Grampa Sam, Steve Treasure; Easy Duino, Bruce Pilkenton; Lucky Leinster, Kip Didericksen; Raging Charger, Lute Proctor; Hemet Flash, Ralph Seville, and Bubba Dasher, Danny Cardoza.

Raging Charger, owned by Bonifacio Rayas, opened his 1990 season in allowance company two weeks ago at Los Alamitos. Racing as the 2-1 favorite, jockey Henry Garcia had Raging Charger on the lead a few strides away from the gates, but had to settle for second when Double The Effort stuck his neck out in the final yards.

The 5-year-old gelding raced with some tough allowance horses last year at Los Alamitos.

Jockey Henry Garcia led Raging Charger to a fourth-place finish in the 550-yard Barbra B Handicap last season. The Colorado-bred likes the shorter 350-yard distance and is well-placed in tonight’s field.

With leading rider Didericksen, Lucky Leinster could upset the top choice. The 4-year-old son of Leinster House won five of nine races last year for trainer James Maple.

Hemet Flash faces one of the easiest fields of his career after racing with stakes horses last year.