LOS ALAMITOS: SUMMER THOROUGHBRED FESTIVAL BEGINS THURSDAY

By Bob Mieszerski —-

THREE STAKES TO BE OFFERED DURING EIGHT-DAY SEASON

CYPRESS, Calif. —The first thoroughbred meet of 2017 at Los Alamitos will begin Thursday, July 6.

The eight-day Summer Thoroughbred Festival will continue through Sunday, July 16 with racing conducted on a Thursday-Sunday basis. Post time will be 2 p.m.

The two-week meet will be highlighted by a pair of graded stakes races – the Grade II, $200,000 Great Lady M. for fillies and mares (3-year-olds & up) at 6 ½ furlongs and the Grade III, $200,000 Los Alamitos Derby for 3-year-olds at 11/8 miles.

Expected to attract defending champion and 2016 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint and Eclipse Award winner Finest City, the Great Lady M. will be run for the fourth time Saturday, July 8 while the Los Alamitos Derby, which was captured by Accelerate in 2016, will be offered Saturday, July 15.

Completing the stakes program is the $100,000 Bertrando Stakes for 3-year-olds & up bred or sired in California Run at one mile, the Bertrando, which will contested July 8, could feature two past winners – Soi Phet (2014) and Magic Mark (2015).

Track gates – including the Clubhouse and Vessels Club – will open at 9:30 a.m. General parking is free with grandstand admission $3 ($2 for seniors).

The wagering menu includes the Pick Six, a pair of Pick 4’s – races 2-5 and the final four races – as well as the extremely popular Players’ Pick 5 – a 50-cent minimum wager with a reduced 14% takeout rate which is offered on the first five races.

In addition to the Great Lady M. and Bertrando, the July 8 program will feature a live money handicapping contest with a minimum of three seats available to the 2018 National Thoroughbred Racing Association National Handicapping Championship in Las Vegas.

There will also be a pair of giveaways during the meet, beginning with Los Alamitos earbuds Sunday, July 9 followed by a Los Alamitos drawstring backpack July 15. The giveaway items are one per paid admission while supplies last.

The opening day feature – the seventh of eight races – is a $46,000 optional claimer for fillies and mares (3-year-olds & up) bred or sired in California.

Eight were entered in the race at 5 ½ furlongs, including Los Alamitos graduate Adios Cali.

Trained by Steve Knapp for Thomsen Racing LLC, the 3-year-old Adios Charlie filly was a first out winner locally, scoring last Dec. 10 when trained by Peter Miller.

Out of the Tale of the Cat mare Cali Cali, Adios Cali, who was claimed by her current connections for $40,000 April 28, comes off a third place finish June 23 at Santa Anita. She’s won twice in eight starts and earned $85,600.

Dangerously Close, a debut winner March 3 for owner-breeder Harris Farms, will make her Los Alamitos debut for trainer Dan Blacker.

A daughter of Ministers Wild Cat and the Cee’s Tizzy mare Keep Active, the 3-year-old led throughout in her victory, defeating next out turf winner Queen Bee to You and six others.

From inside out, the field: Dangerously Close, Stewart Elliott rides, 120 pounds; Adios Cali, Rafael Bejarano, 124; Merrily Merrily, David Flores, 124; Ready to Hula Lula, Tyler Baze, 124; Alpenhorn, Edwin Maldonado, 120; Empress Rules, Brandon Boulanger, 124; Song of Ekati, Jamie Theriot, 122 and Lemonaideen, Mario Gutierrez, 120.