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Clubhouse Ride headlines Los Alamitos Mile Los Alamitos will kick off just its second Thoroughbred meet Friday, and has already attracted some top-notch competition to take part in its $200,000 Los Alamitos Mile on Saturday. The eight-furlong contest for older runners will share the card with the $75,000 Beverly J. Lewis Stakes sending sophomore fillies 6 1/2 furlongs. Clubhouse Ride is the main attraction in the Los Alamitos Mile after taking the Californian in May and finishing second in the Gold Cup at Santa Anita next out. The Craig Lewis-trained six-year-old took a slight break between that latter contest on June 28 and his return to action on August 24 at Del Mar, where he ran a subpar seventh in the Pacific Classic over the synthetic Polytrack. The chestnut son of Candy Ride has yet to compete at Los Alamitos but has proven more than capable over conventional dirt surfaces in the past. Joe Talamo has the return call. Stakes debuter Masochistic brings a three-race win streak into Saturday's contest, scoring by a total 21 lengths in those prior efforts. The Sought After gelding broke his maiden by 14 lengths at Churchill Downs in his second try for trainer A. C. Avila, wired a state-bred optional claimer at Del Mar next out by 2 1/2 lengths and is exiting a 4 1/2-length triumph against open optional claiming company at the seaside track. Victor Espinoza has been aboard for all of Masochistic's wins and retains the mount. Tonito M. is a listed winner in Puerto Rico but is still seeking his first stakes win since shipping stateside during the spring. The Jerry Hollendorfer-conditioned sophomore ran second in Santa Anita's Lazaro Barrera in his opener, finished eighth in the Woody Stephens at Belmont Park, third in the Los Alamitos Derby behind champion Shared Belief and fifth most recently while trying turf in Del Mar's La Jolla Handicap, all graded contests. Rafael Bejarano will be in Tonito M.'s irons for the first time. Rock Me Baby is looking for a return to the winner's circle after missing by a length last out in the Del Mar Mile Handicap on the turf following a 3 1/4-length score in the California Dreamin' Handicap. The Rock Hard Ten gelding rallied for third behind the re-opposing Soi Phet in the Bertrando over track and distance on July 3 and brings regular jockey Corey Nakatani along for the ride. Soi Phet was unable to carry his Bertrando form forward into the San Diego Handicap in his next race and will try to rebound in this spot. The Tizbud six-year-old is no stranger to facing high-class runners, finishing third in last year's Awesome Again behind Mucho Macho Man and Paynter. Kent Desormeaux had piloting duties for trainer Leonard Powell. Sky Kingdom will be tough in this spot off a runner-up effort in the Cougar II Handicap at Del Mar. Prior to that, the Bob Baffert trainee captured the American Flag going 8 1/2 furlongs at Los Alamitos in a track record time of 1:42.32. Martin Garcia, who guided the Empire Maker five-year-old for all but one of his 2013 starts, takes back the mount. Two races before the Los Alamitos Mile, Delta Flower heads an eight-filly field in the Beverly J. Lewis. The A. P. Delta sophomore captured the May 17 Angel's Flight in her first start since transferring to Hollendorfer and followed up with a fourth in the Summertime Oaks last out. Among those she'll face Saturday is Santa Paula winner and Daisycutter Handicap runner-up Uzziel. Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com
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