Preview Racing


Sophomores To Square Off In James Smith Handicap On Sunday
Oatman Handicap winner Apollitical Stone will head the $18,000 James Smith Memorial Handicap on Sunday at Los Alamitos Race Course.

© Scott Martinez
Sophomores To Square Off In James Smith Handicap On Sunday

LOS ALAMITOS, CA—APRIL 5, 2018—After dominating the Oatman Handicap on February 25, Jose Flores and Steve Mickaelian’s Apollitical Stone is ready to rock ‘n’ roll once again in the $18,000 James Smith Memorial Handicap at 350 yards on Sunday at Los Alamitos.

Eight races are on tap with the James Smith serving as the final event on the card.

Apollitical Stone was in total control of the Oatman shortly after the start. Under a hand ride by jockey Cruz Mendez, the gelding by Apollitical Jess was ahead by 1-¼ lengths early on and never looked back from there on the way to a 1-¾ length victory in the 400-yard race.

The shorter distance is of no worry to his connections, as the JEH Stallion Station-bred runner has three previous victories at 350 yards. Apollitical Stone will start from post number three.

Randy Dickerson and Nick Lowe’s CM Boom Shakalaka enters the James Smith after leading early and running a solid fifth in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Winter Derby on February 10. The Oregon-bred sprinter won five of seven starts over four different tracks last year and was a winner in his Los Alamitos debut as well in a trial to the Winter Derby. He’ll be a tough customer again if he repeats his Winter Derby trial effort.

Lazy Creek Ranch and Jerry McAlevey’s On Our Way, who ran in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity last year, Corona Thru Fire, the third place finisher in the Oatman, and Dont Foose With Me, the runner-up in last year’s Kindergarten and a winner in his last two starts, will complete the field.

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The seventh race on Sunday night will feature seven 2-year-old first-time starters, all of which are eligible to run in the trials to the Kindergarten Futurity on May 6.

Reliance Ranches’ SC Coronada is one of the top names in this 300-yard dash. The Coronado Cartel filly posted the third fastest of 24 works (:12.30) on March 6 and then returned to post the fastest of 50 drills (:12.20) on March 20. Her dam is Spit Curl Diva, the 2010 and 2011 AQHA Champion aged mare.

Thrillofbeingfirst, Chickafoose, Strong Lyke Bull, Volcomsgold Bars, Cartels High, and Whatever He Wants will also race.

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Courtesy of www.losalamitos.com.