Laura Lukas Has Five Horses in Trials

Owner-trainer Laura Lukas will be busy during the latter portion of the 10-race program tonight at Los Alamitos.

Lukas, wife of Wayne Lukas, who is also her co-owner, is scheduled to run five horses in the three trials for the $155,400 El Primero Del Ano Derby.

In the first 400-yard trial, which goes as the seventh on the card, the Lukases will send out the entry of Rare News and Bobcat Bob.

The better of the 3-year-olds is Bobcat Bob, who will be making his first start since he was second Nov. 30. First or second in six of his 10 races, the Chicks Beduino gelding will be ridden by Jacky Martin.

In the eighth, the Lukases’ duo of Check Him Out and Hot As Hell is the 4-5 favorite. Check Him Out won four of nine as a 2-year-old, including a victory at 8-1 in the Ed Burke Futurity last summer.

The other entrant for the Lukas barn is Bucky Bounce, a 20-1 shot in the third and final trial, a race headed by 9-5 favorite Chicks Rapidash and Dont Dink With Me.

The picks: 1. Ponderosa Ruby. 2. Onlyinyourdreams. 3. Suzy Cartel. 4. Calldownthelaw. 5. Ribbons Of Darkness. 6. Corwyn Duchess. 7. Bobcat Bob. 8. Check Him Out. 9. Chicks Rapidash. 10. Vels Silent Charger.

Four! In the first, let’s single Ponderosa Ruby, use Onlyinyourdreams, Sunshine Belle and the entry of Metal Heart and Aunt Eva in the second, Suzy Cartel and Shenoshezroyal in the third and Calldownthelaw, River Dash and Peggys Winner in the fourth. Cost: $18.

Shots in the dark: Tequiza Starlet could improve in his second career start in the fifth and gets a new jockey in Joe Badilla Jr. Forever Jan should do better with the class drop in the sixth.

Post time: 7:15 p.m.

On the Net: For entries and results from Los Alamitos, visit: www.latimes.com/horseracing/