This Mare Appears to Be a Worthy Contender

Worthy Contender, who has won two in a row since arriving from Texas, leads a field of eight fillies and mares in tonight’s $20,430 John Deere California Distaff Challenge at 400 yards.

Owned and bred by Scarlett Hill Farm Inc. and trained by Paul Jones, Worthy Contender, a 5-year-old Relagate mare, won two of her first 10 racing in New Mexico and Texas.

Since arriving in California, she won an allowance race by a length as the 17-10 choice on June 17 and took another allowance contest by three-quarters of a length on July 18.

Winless in her previous attempts at 400 yards, Worthy Contender will retain the services of jockey Ramon Sanchez.

Jones will send out two others in the Challenge -- Scatter Tacs, who has won two of seven, and In His Dreams, who has been second or third in her last seven starts for owner J.E. Jumonville Jr.

The picks: 1. Bonnie Pancho. 2. Rockabye Heart. 3. Tam’s Nitemare. 4. Champ Three. 5. Tigermite. 6. Fly Corona Fly. 7. Good As Good Bye. 8. A Wild Ride. 9. Worthy Contender. 10. Mucho Mocho.

Four! Bonnie Pancho in the first, Saras Boots, Rockabye Heart and Tymed in the second, Tam’s Nitemare, Me No Toad and I Knew It in the third and Mr Corona Cash, Jushart and Champ Three in the fourth.

Shots in the dark: Cammie Cousteau drops in her second start for trainer Donna McArthur in the sixth. Chicks N Fine Genes lost all chance at the break last weekend and could make amends in the eighth.

Post time: 7 p.m.

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