Heros Call to Battle for First Win of the Year

Heros Call, the winner of last year’s Marathon National, will look for his first win of 2004 in tonight’s $15,750 MD Barns California Challenge at 870 yards.

Owned and trained by Laura Pinelli, Heros Call, a 4-year-old gelded son of Grand Slam, beat Available Credit by a length to win the Marathon National, a Grade I, on Dec. 14. It capped a stretch where he won five of seven. In his return May 22, he was defeated by a half-length by stablemate Oak Canyon.

With jockey Tyler Baze busy at Del Mar, Alex Bautista will ride Heros Call for the first time tonight. They will break from the rail in the field of eight.

One of his opponents is the aforementioned Available Credit, who will be making his first appearance since the Marathon National. Trained by Paul Jones for owners Cyndee Duke and Roger Wynn, the Splash Bac gelding won four of 10 in 2003.

The picks: 1. Mr Mongoose Bug. 2. Nashua’s Asset. 3. No Better Time. 4. A Fishers Pride. 5. Mai Purple. 6. First Time In Love. 7. Chicks First Card. 8. Start The Commotion. 9. Heros Call. 10. Mummy.

Four! Mr Mongoose Bug and No Time To Brake in the first, Nashua’s Asset and Jaming Jammer in the second, No Better Time and She Can Disco in the third and A Fishers Pride, Tango Cartel and Proteger in the fourth.

Shots in the dark: Corona Coal debuts for trainer Felix Gonzalez in the sixth. Big Granny should improve in her second start of the year in the seventh.

Post time: 7:15 p.m.

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