Straight Time for He Roves

If He Roves hadn’t veered out badly Nov. 15, the 2-year-old appaloosa would have won his career debut in the Classics Futurity for owner-breeder Ed Allred and trainer Curley Ortiz.

The son of Geneo JJ stayed straight three weeks later and graduated cleverly. He’ll try for a repeat against six others in the $20,600 Star of Stars Futurity at 4 1/2 furlongs.

He Roves, who will race coupled with the Allred-owned Funny Secret, will be facing Key To The Gold, the beaten favorite in the common race Nov. 15; Fooled You Twice; Mamas Silver Bullet; Fair Queen, who won at 16-1 when helped by He Roves’ antics, and Really Julie.

Later in the card, trainer Paul Jones has two chances to add to his record victory total when he sends out Cee A Dash and Red Hot Blitzer in the $13,000 Diamond Bar Handicap.

Jones, who began the week with 165 victories, two more than the record of 163 he established in 2001, will saddle a third of the field in the 350-yard Diamond Bar.

The picks: 1. Kens Rawhide. 2. Cash No Check. 3. Think Mile. 4. He Roves. 5. Chasen Moms Dream. 6. Willyacrossmyvalle. 7. Knowntoman. 8. Toasting My Dad. 9. Babe With Rhythm. 10. Regards To Apollo.

Four! Use Kens Rawhide, Head Light Jr and Seranoide in the first, Cash No Check, Moonlighting Special and Bluegrass Blurr in the second, Be A Winner JJ and Think Mile in the third and single the He Roves-Funny Secret entry in the fourth.

Shots in the dark: Halloween Moon had trouble in his latest and could rebound in the fifth for trainer Jesus Nunez. Got Any Id Bout What lost all chance at the break Dec. 5 and shortens up in the 10th.

Post time: 7:15 p.m.

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