Big On Charm Seeks a Winning Trip

Ten fillies and mares will be trying tonight to earn a trip to Texas.

The winner of the $31,000 Ford California Distaff Challenge, the 10th of 11 races on tonight’s program, earns a spot in the $75,000 Ford Distaff Challenge at Lone Star Park near Dallas on Nov. 2.

One of the main contenders in the 400-yard Challenge is defending champion Big On Charm.

Owned by Double Bar S Ranch and trained by W.G. Baber, the 5-year-old Sir Alibi mare beat Linda Te Chick by a nose in winning this race in 2001. The California-bred is winless in four starts since, but will try to turn things around tonight under G.R. Carter, who last rode her more than a year ago.

From the inside out, the rest of the field includes Imjumpn, who beat Big On Charm by a length on Aug. 4, 2001; Royal Dip, the Golden State Derby winner; Austiana, who is shipping from Texas for trainer Janet Van Bebber; First Place Princess, Sport Report, More Heart, Ity Bitty Rarity, WCR Rubys Diamond and Allurist.

The picks: 1. Miss Absolut. 2. Fat Tuesday. 3. I Dream Of Flyin. 4. Drivers Seat. 5. Salty Toast. 6. Would She. 7. Sell Short. 8. IB Snow. 9. Shania Fame. 10. Allurist. 11. Lets Disco First.

Four! Use Miss Absolut and Sign It Sadie in the first; Fat Tuesday, Murmuring Sea and Amok in the second; I Dream Of Flyin, Darlenes Sugar Chick and Saszy in the third, and Drivers Seat and Yes I’m No Fool in the fourth.

Shots in the dark: Shez Simply Fabulous could fire off the bench in the eighth for trainer Donna McArthur. Grateful Heart is better than shown and could wake up in the ninth.

Post Time: 6:40 p.m.

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