Chapie Can Count on Statewide Support

When he makes his 79th career start in tonight’s third, Chapie, an 8-year-old gelding, will have his three owners cheering from different parts of the state.

Jack Karlik will be watching from his seat in the Hollywood Park press box; Jack Disney will be watching from Ferndale, where he is vacationing with his wife, Emily; and Doug Disney, his brother, will be at Los Alamitos for the $2,000 claimer.

What they should all see shortly after 7 p.m. is Chapie winning for the 19th time as he makes his second start since being reclaimed by trainer Christopher O’Dell. Fifth in his most recent start behind Issues Falstaff, the California-bred faces an exceptionally weak field--only five opponents, all of whom all have been struggling in recent months. Chapie will be ridden by Baltazar Contreras, who was aboard for his win at 13-1 June 13.

The picks: 1. First Down Affair. 2. Mean Gene. 3. Chapie. 4. Flirtatious Fred. 5. Azaine. 6. Hempen Sun. 7. Ipomea. 8. Dinastia Toll. 9. Buzzin On By.

Four! Use First Down Affair and Flyin Corona in the first, Mean Gene, Beyond And Over, Oh Superman Go and Lucky And Proud in the second, single Chapie in the third and Flirtatious Fred and Woody Dot Com in the fourth.

Shots in the dark: The Cash Broker keeps Ramon Sanchez in the sixth after encountering trouble on July 28. Love That Speed tries better in the eighth after winning for the sixth time in 19 tries on July 14.

Post time: 6:10 p.m.

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