High-Flying Five for Malibu

Kiptys First Dash, sharp in his return to the races Dec. 7, heads a field of five in tonight’s $15,000 Malibu Handicap.

A 4-year-old gelding owned by a partnership that includes Ed Allred and R.D. Hubbard and trained by Paul Jones, Kiptys First Dash won his third in succession that night after a layoff of more than two months.

Now six for 14, Kiptys First Dash is the 125-pound high-weight in the 350-yard Malibu and he keeps jockey Ramon Sanchez.

Jones also is scheduled to send out Chicks Rapidash. Trainer Blane Schvaneveldt will be represented by Texas shipper Almost Flyin and Ronnie Jace. The only other entrant is Zee Wayne, winner of half of his 16 starts for owner Erasmo Hernandez and trainer Felix Gonzalez.

Ronnie Jace, owned by Schvaneveldt and Ron and Ronnie Keller, is the richest member of the lineup with more than $208,000 in earnings. He has won six of 21, but was only one of 10 in 2002.

The picks: 1. Two Snaps Back. 2. Jordans Streaker. 3. Comair Cs. 4. Corona Captain. 5. Runningwiththewind. 6. Be A Winner JJ. 7. A Cover Story. 8. Kiptys First Dash. 9. Red Hot Request.

Four! Use Caperucita Roja and Two Snaps Back in the first, single Jordans Streaker in the second, Flash Ren, Sey More Proof, Invincible Proof and Comair Cs in the third, and Corona Captain, A Tempting Chick and First Dashatac in the fourth.

Shots in the dark: Spring Bold steps up in the fifth for sharp trainer Barry Holmes. Ourenay could come back running in the seventh in his first start since Sept. 26.

Post time: 7:15 p.m.

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