Track Starts New Meet After Record Handle

Preparing to kick off another marathon meet tonight, Los Alamitos ended one Sunday by setting a record for total handle. The track handled more than $231 million during its 2001-2002 season.

Los Alamitos’ biggest nights were Dec. 14 and 15, when the Los Alamitos Million and the $500,000 Champion of Champions were run.

First Place Queen won the Million, earning the title of top 2-year-old and top 2-year-old filly. Whosleavingwho, owned by Jim Geiler and Kim Kessinger and trained by Paul Jones, dominated a quality field in the Champion of Champions and was selected horse of the meet and top aged horse.

Other winners included: Meteoric, top 2-year-old colt or gelding; Miami Cartel, top 3-year-old gelding; Check Him Out, top 3-year-old and 3-year-old colt; Corona Kool , top older mare; Sign Of Lanty, top distance horse, and Mini Rock, top 3-year-old filly.

This was the second consecutive year Corona Kool had won the top older mare honor, and Sign Of Lanty has been the top distance horse for three consecutive years.

The picks: 1. Cuantemplate. 2. Bold Cup. 3. That Giver. 4. Sey Mag Proof. 5. Supposin In Fly. 6. Murrieta Red. 7. Talking Tactics. 8. Highly Rated.

Four! Single Cuantemplate in the first, use Bold Cup and Li’l Lulu in the second, all in the third and Virama and Sey Mag Proof in the fourth.

Shots in the dark: Topflyte steps up and tries to keep his winning streak alive in the seventh. Royal Juno Bug is capable if she fires her best shot in the eighth.

Post Time: 7:15 p.m.

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