Royal Dip Heads Talented Field in Vessels
Two weeks after winning the California Distaff by a neck, her seventh victory in 16 lifetime starts, Royal Dip is aiming for a Grade I victory tonight in the $110,350 Mildred Vessels Memorial Handicap.
Owned by Sharon Brandsness and trained by Connie Hall, Royal Dip, a 4-year-old gray daughter of Royal Quick Dash, will carry top weight of 125 pounds in the 400-yard race and will have Carlos Bautista aboard.
The other nine fillies and mares in the Vessels also know where the wire is. They have combined for 41 victories, topped by Running Bac, who has won nine of 15 in her career.
A 4-year-old mare bred in Utah, Running Bac has won her three starts this year for owner J. Francisco Diaz and trainer Juan Aleman.
The picks: 1. Highly Conceited. 2. Applicator. 3. Miss Curley Lite. 4. A Cover Story. 5. Straw Poll. 6. Chapie. 7. Sables Dash. 8. Charmed Mongoose Bug. 9. Royal Dip. 10. BW Old Smokey. 11. Ja Runaway Dash.
Four! Use Dreams To Fill, Takin My Lane and Highly Conceited in the first, Applicator and Jo Talisman in the second, First Royal Princess and Miss Curley Lite in the third, and A Cover Story and Pennants Headlight in the fourth.
Shots in the dark: Warp Factor Flynn gets Alex Bautista, a top rider, for his comeback in the sixth.
Jump Jive An Wail won six of nine in New Mexico and makes her local debut in the ninth.
Post time: 6:40 p.m.
On the Net: For entries and results from Los Alamitos, visit: www.latimes.com/horseracing/