Heros Call Returns After a Loss as Favorite

Heros Call, the beaten favorite in the California Distance Challenge on Aug. 6, will try to make amends in tonight’s $25,000-added Bull Rastus Handicap.

A Grade III at 870 yards, the Rastus attracted a full field of eight, including five who ran Aug. 6. The longshot winner of that race, Bac In The Saddle, is not one of them.

Owned and trained by Laura Pinelli, Heros Call has lost twice as the favorite in 2004 after completing last year with consecutive victories, topped by a one-length score in the Marathon National on Dec. 14.

A 4-year-old gelded son of the thoroughbred sire Grand Slam, Heros Call will be ridden for the first time tonight by jockey G.R. Carter.

The picks: 1. Wild Fever. 2. A Dancer. 3. Nancys Magic Brush. 4. Bad Notion. 5. Im High On The Red. 6. Northern Won. 7. Bf Easy Does It. 8. Coronas First Down. 9. Available Credit. 10. Mr Sig.

Four! Wild Fever and Larceny N Tended in the first, A Dancer, Just Call Me Fish and Kates Secret Choice in the second, Nancys Magic Brush and Cowgirls N Indians in the third and Bad Notion, Don Bony and Chicks Super Sport in the fourth.

Shots in the dark: No Time To Brake tries a shorter distance in the fifth. El Once makes his local debut for trainer Santiago Medina in the sixth.

Post Time: 7:15 p.m.

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