Chiarascuro, Whosleavingwho Top Go Man Go

Picking between the two expected co-favorites tonight in the Go Man Go Handicap may be among the most difficult bets in the house this season.

A victory carries an automatic berth into December’s $500,000 Champions of Champions. Chiarascuro, winner of the MBNA America California Challenge, and last year’s champion 3-year-old gelding Whosleavingwho, who has earned $425,088 to date, are expected to be up to the task in the 400-yard, $100,000 race. But if those two can’t cut it, there are several others in the field that could, such as the Charlie Treece-trained Rare Coup, who finished third in last month’s Vessels Maturity.

Also entered are Runahalf, who has won five of seven races this year, recent allowance winner Royal N Rowdy and stakes winner Solar Dash.

New kid on the block: Trainer Juan Aleman earned his first Grade I stakes win with Running Bac in the Mildred Vessels Memorial Handicap. Now he’s sending Runahalf to post. Runahalf, sired by Runaway Winner, has won three times this season, including an impressive victory over a field of $100,000 claimers by 1 1/4 lengths. His only setback in the last six starts was at short distance to Classic First, who set a record time in winning the 220-yard Firecracker Handicap.

No Go Gomez: Trainer Jaime Gomez sent out 13 horses to Friday night’s Pacific Coast Quarter Horse Racing Assn. Futurity. Tonight he’s sending out two quality horses, both in the derby trials, and none in the Go Man Go. His derby chances rest on Babe Watcher, who won five of nine starts in 2001, and Sassy Smith, one of the top two-year olds in the nation last year, earning $380,000. The horses with the 10 fastest times in the two derby trials advance to the $117,000 final on Sept. 27.

The picks: 1. Scoop Up The Cash, 2. Ano Lani, 3. A Campus Chic, 4. Vega CS, 5. Aegens Effort, 6. A Blurring Jet, 7. Babe Watcher 8. Check Him Out, 9. Chiarascuro, 10. With Reflections, 11. Easy Angel Eyes.

Four: Take class dropper Western Waltz, consistent Scoop Up The Cash and recent winner I Got Hot Pants in the first. In the second, double up with Lost Pirate and Ano Lani. In the third, speed will pay off again for A Campus Chic, and finally, after a long layoff, Vega CS should do well, as will Sherife USA in the fourth. Cost: $24.

Shots in the dark: Take Aubrey Rain in the eighth.

Post time: 6:15 p.m.

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