Trainer Hart Nearing Milestone for Victories

Rodney Hart will reach a milestone with his next victory.

A trainer for about 50 years who earned his first victory at Los Alamitos with Apple Jack Bee in 1960, Hart will become the fourth trainer to win 1,000 races at Los Alamitos with his next victory, joining Blane Schvaneveldt, Paul Jones and John Cooper in the exclusive club.

A Secret Account was the 999th winner for Hart, scoring a $25.60 upset in Friday night’s ninth, beating a field that included Drop Your Sox and Dashin Bye, the favorite and a Grade I winner. Ridden by Eddie Garcia, A Secret Account, who is also owned by his trainer, covered the 350 yards in 17.59 seconds.

A native of South Dakota, Hart began his training career there before coming to Los Alamitos 42 years ago.

He had no starters on Saturday’s night program or this evening’s nine-race card.

On Thursday, Cooper got his 1,100th victory at Los Alamitos when Gonna Get A Ticket took the seventh under jockey Gary Boag.

The picks: 1. Leaving The Fire. 2. Frolic’s Flash. 3. Mini Can Fly. 4. Maximillions. 5. Spit Happens. 6. Mustang Pilot. 7. First Dance Dasher. 8. Crashin Bac. 9. Ponderosa Ruby.

Four! Use Leaving The Fire, Sunday Blush and Judys Jazz in the first, single Frolic’s Flash in the second, use Mini Can Fly and Mighty Smooth Dash in the third and Maximillions, Taught and Applicator in the fourth.

Shots in the dark: Taught is a first-time starter in a bad race in the fourth and a top rider (Ramon Guce) takes the call. Word Angel had trouble in his latest and switches to leading jockey Ramon Sanchez in the fifth.

Post Time: 6:10 p.m.

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