Somethin About Merri Seeks Fourth in Row

Somethin About Merri, a 4-year-old trained by Dennis Ekins for owner Lorena Vallejo, will be trying for her fourth consecutive win tonight in the seventh race, a $20,000 claimer at 220 yards. The race is part of a pick six that has a carry-over of $14,314.

A winner once in her first 12 races, Somethin About Merri started her winning streak with a neck victory over $10,000 claimers Oct. 10.

Dropped in against $8,000 competitors less than a month later, she responded with a one-length win, then stepped up to the $12,500 level on Dec. 19 and finished in a dead-heat with Dashin Dashetta, who is also running tonight.

Rodrigo Aceves, who has been aboard for two of the California bred’s victories during the streak, retains the mount.

The picks: 1. Saturdays Promise. 2. Shems. 3. Mamas Family. 4. One For Wanda. 5. Rail Skimmer. 6. Buzzin On By. 7. Somethin About Merri. 8. Heza Fast Streaker.

Four! Saturdays Promise and Bobby Drifter in the first, Shems, One Of Us and Tomalosta in the second, Mamas Family, Parallel Style and Meter Me Annie in the third and One For Wanda in the fourth.

Shots in the dark: Sir Supermans Cape debuts for trainer Paul Jones in the fifth. Yurmans Secret switches to jockey Alex Bautista in the sixth.

Post time: 7:15 p.m.

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