Los Alamitos Race Course
Horses race past the Los Alamitos grandstand.
Jul 4, 2025 • 9:00 pm
It’s always a quick meet at Los Al.
The three week side trip to Cypress comes to a close this weekend, headlined by the prestigious Grade 2 Great Lady M Stakes. Del Mar awaits Southern California runners, but not before Los Alamitos hosts another trio of racing days.
Great Lady M is the namesake of this stakes race, having last run in 1980. She won 14 races in her 58 race career, including 7 wins in stakes or handicap company. She is the dam of Lady’s Secret, the 1986 Horse of the Year. Her win in the 1979 Orange Coast Handicap equalled the track record at Los Alamitos, and marked her place in Southern California lore with an upset win in the 1980 A Gleam Handicap.
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Let’s meet the field, and get our weekly wager together.
Grade 2 The Great Lady M. 6 ½ Furlongs, Dirt. F&M 3+up. $200,000.
1. Super Shine. 12/1. Jockey: Tiago Pereira. Trainer: Phil D’Amato.
Super Shine began her career in Argentina, running well enough to garner interest from ownership in the US. Her first race stateside came in the Grade 2 Santa Maria at Santa Anita, a two turn dirt affair. She nearly won that, before the connections started her in shorter and shorter spots. It worked last out, where she went wire-to-wire in the listed Desert Stormer, getting a perfect trip under Hector Berrios. This is her second start in the form cycle, and at the right price, is very playable.
Comment: Live longshot play.
2. Sweet Azteca. 9/5. Jockey: Juan Hernandez. Trainer: Richard Baltas.
Sweet Azteca is the defending champion, and one of two Grade 1 winners in the field. She’s a specialist at the distance, having gone 3-for-4. We haven’t seen her since October of last year, but if her workouts are any indication, she’s ready for this spot. I think there’s better, classier speed in this field – but there’s no discounting her chances.
Comment: 2nd best in field; can win.
3. Chismosa. 15/1. Jockey: Kyle Frey. Trainer: Rafael DeLeon.
Chismosa is the Cal-bred in the race, and her resume includes a win in the state-bred Betty Grable Stakes at Del Mar this past November. She’s a capable sprinter, especially in state-bred company; this simply seems like too much of an ask. She was a good second last out in the Desert Stormer – behind Super Shine – but she’ll have to be considerably better here to have a shot. She ran in this race last year, finishing 7th in a field of 10. I’m not expecting much better this year.
Comment: Toss.
4. Barbara T. 20/1. Jockey: Hector Berrios. Trainer: Michael McCarthy.
Barbara T is a lightly-raced daughter of Army Mule, having raced once as a 3-year-old before winning both of her efforts this year. She broke her maiden at Keeneland in the highest level maiden special they card – by 11 lengths. She turned around and topped allowance company last out at Santa Anita, stalking throughout before taking the lead in the stretch and jogging home. She’ll have to take a big step forward to win here, but no one should be surprised to see her get a good check in this race.
Comment: Live to hit the board.
5. One Magic Philly. 5/1. Jockey: Antonio Fresu. Trainer: Phil D’Amato.
There is only one question as it pertains to One Magic Philly: which version are we going to get on Saturday? If we get the fall of 2024 O.M.P., she may very well be good enough to win this race. She has spent her entire career running against older horses, and her maiden/ allowance/ Grade 3 Chillingworth Stakes winning streak is as good a three race sequence as any runner in this race has put together. She’s 3-for-3 at the distance, and jockey Antonio Fresu just won the riding title at Santa Anita. She’s the most likely upset candidate here.
Comment: Interesting newcomer; can hit the board.
6. Kopion. 4/5. Jockey: Kazushi Kimura. Trainer: Richard Mandella.
Kopion is the class of this field, having won her last three races – two Grade 1s and a Grade 2. She showed a new dimension in a dominating performance last out in the Grade 1 Derby City Distaff, one of the showcase races on the Kentucky Derby undercard. She won the Santa Monica and La Brea Stakes – both at Santa Anita – in February and December, respectively. She’s rolling right now. Her recent works at Santa Anita show a filly no worse for the wear or travel; I expect her to win on Saturday. Jockey Kazushi Kimura has a shot at the Los Alamitos riding title, and Kopion could certainly help get him there.
Comment: Most likely winner.
The Sporting Tribune Wager:
Race 6, $1 Late 4 ($18): 4,7 / 4,5,8 / 6 / 1,4,11. Good luck!
