From Los Alamitos Publicity
CYPRESS, Calif. (Dec. 5, 2023) – Five stakes worth a combined $700,000, including a pair restricted to Golden State Series-eligibles, highlight the 2023 Winter Thoroughbred meet at Los Alamitos that opens on Friday.
The state-bred races are at one mile for 2-year-olds bred or sired in California. The $100,000-guaranteed Soviet Problem – for fillies – will be run Sunday, Dec. 10 while the King Glorious – for colts and geldings – will be contested Sunday, Dec. 17.
The six-day season continues through Sunday, Dec. 17. Racing will be conducted Friday-Sunday both weeks (Dec. 8-10 and Dec. 15-17). Post time will be 12:30 p.m.
The first of the stakes races is the Grade II, $200,000-guaranteed Starlet for 2-year-old fillies. The race at 1 1/16 miles will be run Saturday, Dec. 9 and is part of the “Road to the Kentucky Oaks,” with the winner receiving 10 points towards a berth in the May 3 Kentucky Oaks.
One week later – Saturday, Dec. 16 – the Grade II, $200,000-guaranteed Los Alamitos Futurity will be offered. The race – which will also be run at 1 1/16 miles – is for 2-year-olds and is on the “Road to the Kentucky Derby,” with the winner earning 10 points towards a spot in the May 4 Kentucky Derby.
The other stakes is the Grade III, $100,000 Bayakoa for fillies and mares – 3-year-olds & up – at 1 1/16 miles. The Bayakoa will be contested Friday, Dec. 15.
Grandstand admission is $3 and $2 for seniors 62 and older. Admission to Burgart’s is $10 and Vessels Club is $10. Tickets can also be purchased online at http://losalamitos.com/. Los Alamitos offers free general parking. Preferred parking is $5.
The wagering menu includes a pair of $1 Pick 4’s on races 2-5 and the final four races along with a $2 Pick Six as well as the Players’ Pick 5 – a 50-cent minimum bet with a reduced takeout rate of 14% rate – on the first five races.
The Pick Six will have the standard 70-30 split with 70% of the pool going to those tickets with six winners with the remaining 30% going to tickets with five of six winners.
The $10,000 Pick Six promotion will be offered both Saturdays of the meet. The track will add $10,000 to the Pick Six pool — provided there is no carryover — Dec. 9 and 16.
There will also be a handicapping contest Saturday, Dec. 16 and the Los Alamitos Racing Association will offer a cash prize and a pair of berths in the 2024 National Thoroughbred Racing Association Handicapping Championship in Las Vegas.
Cost to enter is $500. Of that amount, $100 will be placed in the contest prize pool with the remaining $400 going towards a live money wagering card.
Tournament races will include the entire card at Los Alamitos with permitted wagers including win, place, show, exactas, trifectas and daily doubles.
The player with the highest bankroll at the end of the day will be declared the winner and the player with the second highest bankroll will be the runner-up.
The winner will receive 50% of the prize pool. The remaining payoffs: 20% (2nd place), 15% (3rd place), 7.5 % (4th place) and 7.5% (Most Money Wagered).