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LOS ALAMITOS NOTEBOOK JULY 8, 2015 by John Mucciolo A single graded race kicked off the action during the opening weekend at Los Alamitos. Los Alamitos Derby (G2): Watson, Weitman and Pegram's GIMMA DA LUTE (Midnight Lute) took a short lead in early stretch and held off a game late challenge from Prospect Park (Tapit) en route to a nose win under Martin Garcia. The Bob Baffert trainee clocked 1 1/8 miles on the fast main oval in 1:47 to earn a second straight graded win. Track Stats From a total of 34 races held over the California racetrack during the past week, favorites won at a 29 percent clip and the top two betting choices combined for 53 percent of the wins. Eleven races were won in wire-to-wire fashion (32 percent). Five of the nine winners on Saturday won when leading at every call. But since 10 of the 11 wire jobs this past week occurred in sprint runs, often by logical horses, we can't tab a definitive bias just yet. Meet Totals
HORSES TO WATCH Thursday (7/2) 3RD -- WARM ENDOWMENT (Unusual Heat) couldn't catch the favored winner but put in a nice run to be a clear second in a fine debut showing for conditioner Dean Pedersen. The juvenile filly could be sitting on a win in her comeback race. 7TH -- MAGIC MARK (Benchmark) tracked in second, confronted the early leader in the lane and then powered home a convincing winner at a nice price for trainer Ron Ellis. The five-year-old gelding could be tough right back in what could be the start of a nice form cycle. 8TH -- LILY POD (Bernstein) did everything right but win this race in a very good first try for Richard Baltas. The filly, who was hammered at the windows, opened up a big lead and just missed late, and we expect her top graduate before long. Friday (7/3) 1ST -- BLUE CILANTRO (Square Eddie) showed early foot and closed with good energy at first call for trainer Ben Cecil, who rarely has his first-time starters primed up. The sophomore miss should be expected to improve next out which would make her very dangerous. Saturday (7/4) 1ST -- SURFSIDE TIARA (Scat Daddy) couldn't get the winner but finished more than eight lengths clear of third in a race that featured a fine top duo. The Jerry Hollendorfer pupil will be a winner in the very near future in our estimation. 5TH -- We didn't think TURNOVER (Big Brown) beat much in this one for trainer Bob Baffert, but the gelding did so in impressive fashion making his seasonal debut. The four-year-old could be almost any kind in the second half of this season. 8TH -- PROSPECT PARK showed improvement in his second run off the layoff and we still think this one has a few big trophies coming his way for conditioner Cliff Sise Jr. The sophomore colt has some improved early foot and still owns that late burst, and he has room for improvement. Sunday (7/5) 8TH -- SUPER MAJESTY (Super Saver) has been spectacular from a pair of lifetime runs and the brilliant sophomore filly surely should be graded stakes-bound after running this field off their respective feet, crossing the wire 15 1/4 lengths in front while geared down late. A Look Ahead Saturday will play host to the $200,000 Great Lady M S. (G2) for fillies and mares.
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