Second Derby Trial May Be Check-Out Time

Twenty-three 3-year-olds will compete tonight in three trials for the $250,000 Los Alamitos Derby. The 10 fastest qualifiers in the 400-yard trials will advance to the Nov. 1 finals of the Grade I.

Check Him Out, who won the Golden State Derby on Aug. 17, is among the entrants; he will break from the rail in the seventh race, the second trial.

Owned by a partnership that includes trainer Blane Schvaneveldt, Check Him Out will be ridden by Sam Thompson. A win would be the Hennessy colt’s ninth in 17 starts.

The top two contenders in the first trial are Mountain Snow, first or second in seven of nine races, and Miami Cartel, a consistent Corona Cartel gelding trained by Paul Jones.

A field of eight will go in the final trial, topped by Panther Mountain, winner of eight of 14; Golden State Derby runner-up A Tac First and Harley Man.

The picks: 1. Special Reunion. 2. Alybobbob. 3. Ageless. 4. Bys Bug. 5. Himes. 6. Mountain Snow. 7. Check Him Out. 8. Panther Mountain. 9. Toll Tax Bac. 10. Evolution One.

Four! Use Special Reunion and Sixes Quick in the first, Ambusher and Alybobbob in the second, Ageless, Red Hot Tarasco and Miss Snazzy Cash in the third and single Bys Bug in the fourth.

Shots in the dark: Sassy Smith is better than his recent efforts and could rebound in the sixth. Tiny Rocket Dash faltered at the start in his last race and gets a new jockey, Eddie Garcia, in the seventh.

Post time: 7:15 p.m.

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