Running Bac Is the One to Tackle

A winner in four of her seven starts in 2001, Running Bac has improved on that percentage in 2002.

The 4-year-old mare has won both of her races this year and will try for the ninth victory of her career in the $15,000 Dicey Secret Handicap tonight at Los Alamitos.

Owned by J. Francisco Diaz and trained by Juan Aleman, Running Bac, a Utah-bred daughter of Splash Bac, was beaten in her final race of 2001 on Dec. 7, but has won two handicaps since returning to racing May 24.

In the Blushing By, she won by 1 3/4 lengths as the 13-10 favorite, then came back almost a month later to win the Deelish. Ramon Sanchez will again ride Running Bac.

The rest of the lineup in the 350-yard Dicey Secret includes Blue Grass Bounce, Charmed Mongoose Bug, Streakin Six Love, Sandunga Dash, Corona Perfection, Royal Dip, Sammies White Chick and More Heart.

The picks: 1. With Reflections. 2. Sweet Water Lily. 3. Kacy Red. 4. Tough Hagerdorn. 5. Mirthy. 6. Continental Trail. 7. Mighty Advance Man. 8. Sport Report. 9. Running Bac. 10. Vels Silent Charger.

Four! Use With Reflections and Bluegrass Blurr in the first, the Sweet Water Lily-Paitan entry and Basalisk Okba in the second, Kacy Red and The Maui Cartel in the third and Tough Hagerdorn and C.R. Fox in the fourth.

Shots in the dark: Red Dirt Girl was third from the rail in her debut for Dan Francisco and should improve off the race in the fifth. Super Carrie Dee gets leading rider Sanchez for her first start in over a year in the seventh.

Post Time: 7:15 p.m.

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