L.A. COUNTY FAIR : Valiant Pete Favored in the Aprisa

Valiant Pete looks difficult to overcome in the $52,550 Aprisa Handicap at Fairplex Park on Tuesday afternoon, despite being assigned high eight of 119 pounds in the field of six.

Actually, Valiant Pete will be “stretching out” in Tuesday’s sprint, as he comes off a track-record performance at Los Alamitos in winning the Mt. Harvard Handicap on Aug. 11. In that 4 1/2-furlong dash, Valiant Pete found himself behind early for the first time in 18 months, but dug in late and prevailed over Hilco Scamper. Valiant Pete covered the distance in :49 1/5.

Julio Garcia rides Valiant Pete from the rail post; John Sadler is his trainer.

If anyone can contest the early lead against Valiant Pete in the Aprisa, that candidate is the lightweighted member of the cast, Snow Perch. The gelding comes off a wire-to-wire victory over much easier company and doesn’t figure to best this field. But he could soften up Valiant Pete for a late challenger or two.

Snow Perch breaks from the extreme outside of the six-horse lineup. Corey Nakatani has the mount at 108 pounds.

In post position order, the Aprisa lineup consists of Valiant Pete; Yes I’m Blue, David Flores, 116 pounds; Squire Nix, Ray Sibille, 110; Wonder Dancer, Ron Hansen; Movinglikeawinner, Martin Pedroza, 114, and Snow Perch.