Cha Cha Chickie Returns

Worse than second for the first time in her life in her last start Dec. 4, Cha Cha Chickie will try to bounce back in tonight’s $47,650 Masterpiece Derby.

A 350-yard race for 3-year-old paints, the Masterpiece Derby will be followed two races later by the $105,250 Masterpiece Futurity for 2-year-old paints.

Fourth as the 7-10 favorite in a trial to the Derby, Cha Cha Chickie, owned by Robin Moraga and trained by Connie Hall, will be trying for her 10th win in 14 starts tonight under jockey Ramon Sanchez.

In the 350-yard Futurity, Keep Him, the fastest qualifier in the trials 15 days ago, heads a field of 10. Eddie Garcia has the mount on the son of Texas Hero, who has won three of five for owner-breeder Ed Allred and trainer Kelly Lewis. Keep Him won a trial by 1 3/4 lengths in 17.71 seconds.

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The picks: 1. Flight Of Love. 2. Bandolen. 3. Mosh Pit. 4. Pritzi Too. 5. Somethin About Merri. 6. Millennium Song. 7. Treasured Form. 8. Billyjeanthequeen. 9. Keep Him. 10. Lanes End.

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Four! Flight Of Love in the first, Bandolen in the second, Very Gold, Left Coast, Mosh Pit and Take A Card in the third and all in the fourth.

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Shots in the dark: Bold Passer could improve in the sixth now that he has had a race over the track. Judys Special Chick had excuses in her latest and could improve for trainer Janet Van Bebber in the ninth.

Post time: 7:15 p.m.

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