Jones has four shots at Los Al

Trainer Paul Jones is scheduled to saddle 40% of the 10-horse field in tonight’s $200,000 Los Alamitos Invitational Championship, a Grade I at 400 yards.

The five-time defending national champion among trainers, Jones will be represented by Ketel Won, Strawkins, Leading Spirit and, given the circumstances, the aptly named Strength In Numbers.

Bred in Texas by co-owner Barry Thompson, Leading Spirit, a 4-year-old son of Special Leader, is the most accomplished of the Jones quartet. A winner of seven of 12, he won three Grade I futurities in 2005 and comes off a nose loss to FDD Dynasty in the Grade I Go Man Go Handicap on Sept. 15.

A two-time winner at tonight’s distance, Leading Spirit will be ridden by Cody Jensen.

The field also includes Startlet Hawk, Catchmeinyoudreams, Soul Of Silence, Five Bar Molly, Apollitical Time and Go Love A Lark Go.

-- Bob Mieszerski

Stoneside, who experienced a wide trip and finished sixth in the Del Mar Derby on Sept. 2, will try to rebound in today’s $150,000 Oak Tree Derby at Santa Anita.

Victor Espinoza, Oak Tree’s leading rider, will be aboard Stoneside in the turf race for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles.

The legendary gelding John Henry, who was euthanized Monday at 32, will be honored at Santa Anita today.

Lava Man groom Noe Garcia, who lost an arm in an accident caused by a drunk driver July 23, has been showing up at Santa Anita about twice a week, according to trainer Doug O’Neill. “It won’t be long before he is back to work full time,” he said Friday.

O’Neill’s brother, Dennis, said $145,000 was raised for Garcia, 39, at a charity event in Del Mar on Aug. 16. About half of that money went to get Garcia a $6,500 temporary prosthesis, which he now has, and a $65,000 state-of-the-art prosthesis that should be ready early next year.

-- Larry Stewart