Meteoric Favored in Golden State Futurity

Meteoric, whose only loss in eight races came in the All American Futurity at Ruidoso two months ago, is the one to beat in tonight’s $733,950 Golden State Futurity.

Owned by Dutch Masters III and trained by Lin Melton, the 2-year-old Chicks Beduino gelding is among 10 scheduled to go 400 yards in the Grade I. The race is the ninth of 10 on the program.

After winning races in Washington, Idaho and New Mexico, Meteoric qualified for the Futurity in his first local appearance.

Ridden by regular jockey Clark Jones, the Idaho-bred won his trial heat by three-quarters of a length and was the fastest qualifier in 19.67 seconds.

If Meteoric is going to win, he’s going to have to beat 2-year-olds trained by John Bassett and two from the barn of Paul Jones.

Bassett will saddle First Place Queen, a winner of three of five, Corona Caliente, Lotta Bang and The Blues Man. Jones will be represented by Sum Special Strawfly and Deefirst.

The picks: 1. Hot Saki. 2. Fabulous Lady. 3. Yak Ity Yak Go. 4. Saatin. 5. Vels Silent Charger. 6. A Blurring Jet. 7. Dragon Wings. 8. He Doll. 9. Meteoric. 10. Mighty Advance Man.

Four! Use all in the seventh, He’s Spotless and He Doll in the eighth, single Meteoric in the ninth and Mighty Advance Man, Bandolen and Beda Special in the 10th.

Shots in the dark: Trebuchet ships in from Delaware in the fourth and makes her debut for sharp trainer Chris O’Dell. Bac To Streak drops into a claimer in the fifth.

Post time: 5:40 p.m.

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