Miami Moon Dust Seems to Be Flying Now

A winner of only one of his first nine starts, Miami Moon Dust has rattled off three wins in a row and will probably be favored again tonight in the eighth race, a $5,550 starter allowance at 350 yards.

Miami Moon Dust beat $4,000 claimers on Jan. 24, then won two starter races in a row on Feb. 7 and March 6. Two of the three victories came with jockey Ramon Sanchez, who is sidelined with an injury, and he won his latest with Alejandro Luna, who has the mount this evening.

Miami Moon Dust, who will break from post two, has only five opponents in the race: Big Mouth, who is shortening up after finishing fourth at 550 yards, Dash For Easter, Leaving The Fire, Chickster, and Mr Looking Glass.

The picks: 1. Mean Gene. 2. Destiny Calling. 3. Juvie Dasher. 4. Raging Roman. 5. No Pet Peeves. 6. My First Beduino. 7. Inkys Beda Roses. 8. Miami Moon Dust. 9. Red Hot Request.

Four! Use Local Call and Mean Gene in the first, Destiny Calling and Reasonforrejection in the second, Juvie Dasher and Taras Flyer in the third and Siward, Tam’s Nitemare, Raging Roman and Drivers Seat in the fourth.

Shots in the dark: Meter Us Gold makes her first start for trainer Connie Hall in the seventh. Chickster tries tougher in the eighth for trainer Adan Farias.

Post Time: 7:15 p.m.

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