Work will start next Monday with modernizing the men's and women's restroom facilities on the backstretch and new concrete has already been poured into designated areas to help prevent standing water and avoid excess mud around the barns.

In June, Los Alamitos completed work on improvements to the receiving barn and testing areas prioritizing suggestions and recommendations from staff in those areas. The track also built a brand-new office at the main entrance of the barn area for more efficient traffic control.

Additional projects to the barn area for 2023-2024 will be announced in the months to come.

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Out of the handful that will go on Saturday afternoon at the cozy palm-laden oval that continues to breathe–we hope it does, because we need it to survive–you will see some major sale purchases strut their 2-year-old stuff. Historically, this race is Baffert's foregone conclusion, as he has netted 13 of them, starting with Real Quiet back in 1997. But last year, Reddam Racing's homebred, Slow Down Andy (Nyquist), ran contrary to his moniker by getting the best of Messier (Empire Maker) to end the Hall of Fame conditioner's streak at seven.

Baffert comes prepared this time and Messier's ownership group of SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay A. Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan is well represented with a pair of promising super colts in Carmel Road (Quality Road) and Fort Bragg (Tapit). The former went for $650,000 at the KEESEP sale last year, while the latter did him one better by $50,000 at FTKOTC. Tom Ryan, the Managing Partner of SF Racing, said when reached by phone, “We've got 10 nice 2-year-old winners on the board this year, and Bob and his team are very focused on 2023.”

Carmel Road, who has a half-brother named Ambition (Street Sense) out of Inspire who RNAd at FTNAUG this year, lost steam and ended up second-to-last at Keeneland as would-be 2-year-old champion Forte (Violence) nosed ahead for his score in the GI Claiborne Farm Breeders' Futurity Oct. 8. That poor showing was nothing like his maiden victory in the race prior when he won in a geared-down fashion by 8 3/4 at Del Mar Aug. 26. Ryan said about the letdown, “We ended up drawing the outside with Carmel Road in the 14 hole, and the 14 hole at Keeneland with a two-year-old, it's not ideal. So that race is a complete throw out. His last piece of work was a sparkling piece of work. Hopefully, he's ready for this.” Sporting some sharp recent breezes at Santa Anita (Dec. 9, 5f; .59, 1/30), we can expect him to be below his 2-1 morning-line by race time.

As for his stablemate, the 4-1-priced Fort Bragg comes calling after he was disqualified at Santa Anita Oct. 10 and placed second, and then officially broke his maiden Nov. 4 by 3/4 lengths over next out winner, Reincarnate. “He is a beautiful horse that just continues to develop,” Ryan said. “Flavian Prat breezed him last week, was impressed enough to want to ride him. He is coming back from a vacation in France to ride him here. It's a tough, demanding race, but we hope he's up to the challenge.”

Opposing this pair is the last of Baffert's trio, Zedan Racing Stables's $600,000 OBSAPR bay colt by Justify, Arabian Lion. Stretching out around two turns, this 4-5 morning-line favorite has posted a pair of Beyer Speed Figures that sparkled; 92 at Santa Anita with a first-out win Oct. 9, and then a second-place finish with a 93 at Keeneland against optional claimers Nov. 4. All three of these runners could be looking to grab the lead early, and hold off any would-be challengers.

As for Yakteen's Practical Move (Practical Joke), he is not without recent form, nor should he be underestimated. The $230,000 OBSAPR buy ran second to Fort Bragg in that race Oct. 10, despite a poor stumble at the start and getting bumped by his rival in the final furlong. The colt ran third to Havnameltdown (Uncaptured) in the GIII Bob Hope S. Nov. 20. Recall, he is a horse that won at first-asking at Del Mar July 24, was the seized the GIII Best Pal S. Aug. 14, and was second in the GI Runhappy Del Mar Futurity Sept. 11. If he can solve his gate issues, then he might be a player if a pace reactor failure occurs.

The big tickets will try to fly early at Los Alamitos. Baffert may not have access to those Derby points yet, but what is assured is this is going to be an intriguing renewal of the Futurity.

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Placed in a perfect spot by Flavien Prat in an outside, stalking third through fractions of :23.36 and :47.87, Faiza began to make her move while four wide on the far turn to join stablemate Doinitthehardway (Street Sense) and the rail-skimming Pride of the Nile.

With the trio lined up at the top of the lane, the tiring pacesetter Doinitthehardway took the worst of it while racing in between rivals, exchanging bumps with both Faiza and Pride of the Nile as they straightened. Faiza looked well on her way from there, but Pride of the Nile wasn't going down without a fight. Those two put on a show down the stretch passing the eighth pole with Faiza wanting it just a little bit more to take it by a head. Uncontrollable (Upstart) completed the trifecta.

“Faiza has always shown she's a special filly and she had to be special today to win just off one maiden race,” Baffert said. “She's still green, but I think she has a big future in front of her. I think she's going to get better with age, but we've loved her from the start and she's by one of the hottest sires going right now.”

Pedigree Notes:

Faiza, a $90,000 FTKJUL yearling and $725,000 EASMAY 2-year-old, is the first Grade I winner and fifth stakes winner for fast-starting freshman sire Girvin, who has relocated from Ocala Stud to Airdrie for the 2023 breeding season. Faiza is out of a half-sister to MGSW and Spendthrift Farm stallion Thousand Words (Pioneerof the Nile). Second dam Pomeroys Pistol (Pomeroy), a multiple graded-stakes winner herself, placed in both the GI Prioress S. and GI Test S. Faiza's yearling half-sister by Cairo Prince brought $160,000 at Keeneland September. Faiza's dam Sweet Pistol, a $33,000 purchase by Airdrie's Brereton C. Jones at the 2016 KEENOV sale, had a filly by Complexity in 2022 and was bred back to that sire for next season.

Saturday, Los Alamitos
STARLET S.-GI, $300,500, Los Alamitos, 12-10, 2yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:44.49, ft.
1–FAIZA, 120, f, 2, by Girvin
                1st Dam: Sweet Pistol, by Smart Strike
                2nd Dam: Pomeroys Pistol, by Pomeroy
                3rd Dam: Prettyatthetable, by Point Given
   'TDN Rising Star' 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES
   WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. ($90,000 Ylg '21 FTKJUL; $725,000
2yo '22 EASMAY). O-Michael Lund Petersen; B-Brereton C.
Jones (KY); T-Bob Baffert; J-Flavien Prat. $180,000. Lifetime
Record: 2-2-0-0, $222,000. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Pride of the Nile, 120, f, 2, by Pioneerof the Nile
                1st Dam: Inny Minnie, by Hard Spun
                2nd Dam: Inny River, by Seattle Slew
                3rd Dam: Golden Petal, by Mr. Prospector
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK
TYPE. ($140,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-West Coast Stables, LLC;
B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Leandro
Mora. $60,000.
3–Uncontrollable, 120, f, 2, by Upstart
                1st Dam: Behavioral, by Include
                2nd Dam: Arches of Gold, by Strike Gold
                3rd Dam: Pittsy, by Shecky Greene
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($20,000 Ylg '21 FTKOCT; $130,000 2yo
'22 OBSAPR). O-Repole Stable; B-Fountian of Youth Breeding,
LLC (CA); T-Michael W. McCarthy. $36,000.
Margins: HD, 5HF, 3/4. Odds: 0.50, 12.30, 4.00.
Also Ran: Doinitthehardway, Blessed Touch, Classymademoiselle. Scratched: Fast and Shiny.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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A homebred son of 2016 Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist owned by J. Paul Reddam and trained by Doug O'Neill, Slow Down Andy surprised 1-2 favorite the Baffert-trained Messier Dec. 11, ending Baffert's streak of seven wins in a row in the Futurity.

In the Starlet, Eda, the 11-10 favorite, prevailed, continuing a run for Baffert that has seen him win the prestigious race for 2-year-old fillies five of the eight years it has been offered at Los Alamitos.

Baffert also won the meet's other graded race, capturing the $100,500 G3 Bayakoa with favored As Time Goes By for Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith.

The two other stakes were for 2-year-olds bred or sired in California. Professors' Pride went gate-to-wire in the $101,500 Soviet Problem for Larry and Carolyn Samovar's Academic Farms and trainer Eddie Truman while 2-1 second choice Straight Up G led throughout to take the $102,000 King Glorious for owner-breeder Jim Rome's Jungle Racing LLC and trainer Richard Baltas.

Sherman, 84, was honored Dec. 10 minutes after he saddled his last career starter – Chasing Alchemy, who finished seventh in a $50,000 maiden claimer for 2-year-olds. The popular trainer, who has been involved in racing for more than 65 years, finished his career with 2,261 wins. His most famous pupil was two-time Horse of the Year and 2014 Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome, who was based at Los Alamitos for most of his career.

Baffert topped the trainer standings with five victories, one more than Lorenzo Ruiz. It was the 13th meet he has either led or shared the title since daytime thoroughbred racing returned to Los Alamitos in 2014.

Baffert had the most wins (13) for the year at Los Alamitos, combining the Winter meet with the Summer Thoroughbred Festival (June 25-July 5) and the Los Angeles County Fair season (Sept. 10-26). Peter Miller and Steve Miyadi tied for second with 11.

A closing day triple-double enabled Abel Cedillo to win the jockey title, his second in a row locally after taking the LACF meet. The 32-year-old native of Guatemala finished with nine wins, three more than Tyler Baze, apprentices Ricardo Ramirez and Diego Herrera, and Kyle Frey.

For the year at Los Alamitos, Cedillo totaled 35 wins, 14 more than closest pursuer Juan Hernandez. Frey and Herrera shared third with 16.

All sources handle for the Winter meet was up 11% on a comparative basis over 2019, which was also a seven-day season.

Handle at California satellite locations declined 23%, but advance deposit wagering in Southern California increased 61%. “We're pleased with how things went for the days we raced, but disappointed we aren't able to run next week,'' said F. Jack Liebau, vice president of the Los Alamitos Racing Association.

Daytime thoroughbred racing will return to Los Alamitos in 2022. The first of three meets is scheduled to begin Friday, June 24, and will continue through Sunday, July 10.

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With the scratch of Lisette, the Bayakoa field was down to six, with As Time Goes By facing Warren's Showtime, second in her last start in the Betty Grable, and Moonlight d'Oro, a last-out second to Livingmybestlife in the Seashell at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif. After an even break, Harvest Moon showed her head in front first, with As Time Goes By stalking on the rail and Bye Bye Bertie on the outside in third. They stayed one-two-three around the first turn and into the backstretch, with Stellar Sound boldly moving to the lead in the last part of the backstretch. As Time Goes By went with her, these two entering the far turn with As Time Goes By on the lead.

Into the stretch at the Cypress, Calif., track, As Time Goes By was able to shake off Stellar Sound, who gave way to a surging Warren's Showtime on the outside. As Time Goes By did not let her challenger by, holding off Warren's Showtime to win by 1 1/4 lengths. Moonlight d'Oro was third and Stellar Sound fourth.

The final time for the 1 1/16 miles was 1:42.97. Find this race's chart here.

As Time Goes By paid $4.20, $3.00, and $2.10. Warren's Showtime paid $4.40 and $2.80. Moonlight d'Oro paid $2.40.

“She was going well the entire way. I actually think (Warren's Showtime) got about a neck ahead of me in midstretch, but she regrouped and really dug in. She was very game,'' jockey Flavien Prat said after the Bayakoa.

“I love this filly. I love (wife) Jill No. 1 and this filly No. 2. My two favorite girls. They went so fast early, I was afraid of the runner-up (Warren's Showtime) who is a really good horse, and I was hoping (As Time Goes By) would have something left. I've always been high on her. I'm hoping she runs as a 5-year-old because I'd really like to win a Grade 1 with her and I know she can. (Owners Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith) said if she's doing well, they will keep her in training,'' trainer Bob Baffert said after the race.

Bred in Kentucky by Orpendale and Chelston, As Time Goes By is out of the Dehere mare Take Charge Lady, a multiple G1 stakes winner and dam of 2013 Travers Stakes winner Will Take Charge. The 4-year-old filly is owned by Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith. With her win in the G3 Bayakoa, As Time Goes By has four wins in nine starts in 2021, for a lifetime record of five wins in 12 starts and career earnings of $535,600.

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Restricted to 2-year-old fillies bred or sired in California, the Soviet Problem attracted nine entrants.

Part of the Golden State Series, the Soviet Problem is the last of eight races. Post time Friday is 12:30 p.m. Pacific. Scheduled post time for the main event is 4:28 p.m.

Owned by breeder George Krikorian and trained by John Sadler, Big Novel was more than six lengths clear of the rest of the field in the Golden State contest at seven furlongs.

A daughter of Mr. Big and the Heatseeker mare Steamy Novel, Big Novel hasn't been worse than third in her four races and has earned $95,850. She broke her maiden Oct. 2 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif.

At the Spa will try for her fourth win in five starts for a partnership that includes Tom Beckerle, Saul Carrillo, and breeder Terry Lovingier and trainer Jorge Periban. The Outwork filly out of the Smoke Glacken mare Spa Creek, who suffered her lone loss when last in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante Sept. 5, has banked $165,000 and has stakes victories in the Fasig Tipton Debutante and CTBA.

Four members of the Soviet Problem cast – Dendera, Girl Ranger, Professors' Pride, and Smilin Evie – are coming off wins.

Trained by Sadler for Cicero Farms LLC and breeder Batchelor Family Trust, Dendera was a neck winner as the prohibitive 1-5 favorite in an optional claimer going the Soviet Problem distance on turf Oct. 22.

The win for the Shaman Ghost filly out of the Scat Daddy mare Daddy's Due was her second in three races on grass. She was fifth of 10 in her debut in her lone try on dirt July 16. She's banked $83,200.

Dismissed at 35-1 in her Nov. 7 bow in a $50,000 maiden claimer for California breds, Girl Ranger rolled to a 5 ¼ length win for Marsha Naify and trainer Juan Carlos Lopez, but the daughter of U.S. Ranger is now in the stable of Michael McCarthy.

Out of the Bertrando mare Soul Flyer, Girl Ranger picked up $21,600 for the authoritative score.

Professors' Pride debuted with a one-length victory as the 8-5 second choice Nov. 14 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif. The Bayern filly out of the Twirling Candy mare Last Resort earned $42,000 for the win for Academic Farms and trainer Eddie Truman.

Trained by Richard Baltas for Panic Stables LLC, Smilin Evie has been away since prevailing by 1 ¼ lengths in her initial try Oct. 24. The Tom's Tribute filly out of the Exchange Rate mare Lady Katfish collected $36,600 for the triumph.

Trainer Walther Solis entered both Madiha and Munny Penny.

Owned by Zahra Madiha, Amanda Navarro, and breeder Lovingier, Madiha is winless in five starts with earnings of $25,880. The daughter of Shaman Ghost and the Great Notion mare Very Few Details finished fifth in the Golden State Juvenile Fillies in her most recent outing.

Owned and bred by Lovingier, Munny Penny will be making her first start since finishing second behind At the Spa in the Fasig Tipton Debutante June 20. The Munnings filly out of the Animal Kingdom mare Northern Song has earned $72,460 while winning once in three races.

The field is completed by Rose Maddox, who was a neck behind Dendera when last seen Oct. 22. The Grazen filly out of the Unusual Heat mare has earned $36,000 for owner-breeder Nick Alexander and trainer Steve Miyadi. Rose Maddox was a first-out winner over the Tapeta surface at Golden Gate Fields in Berkeley, Calif., Sept. 11.

From inside out, the field for the Soviet Problem Stakes: Madiha, Kyle Frey, 117 pounds; Dendera, Flavien Prat, 120; Girl Ranger, Drayden Van Dyke, 120; Professors' Pride, Juan Hernandez, 120; At the Spa, Tyler Baze, 120; Smilin Evie, Ricardo Gonzalez, 120; Rose Maddox, Umberto Rispoli, 124; Munny Penny, Abel Cedillo, 120 and Big Novel, Joe Bravo, 120.

One race earlier, trainer Art Sherman will saddle the final starter of his career when Chasing Alchemy will try to break his maiden against seven other 2-year-old maidens in a $50,000 claimer at six furlongs.

Sherman, 84, who has spent more than 65 years in racing as an exercise rider, jockey, and trainer – which included conditioning two-time Horse of the Year California Chrome – will be honored on his retirement with a video presentation and winner's circle ceremony between races.

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A one-mile race restricted to horses bred or sired in California, the King Glorious will be run for the 10th time Sunday, Dec. 12, the final day of the Los Angeles Winter meet.

Owned by a partnership that includes breeder Terry Lovingier and trained by Walther Solis, Finneus rallied from well off the pace to win the Golden State Juvenile by a half-length over favored Slow Down Andy.

A son of Stay Thirsty and the Ghostzapper mare My Fiona, who won the 2014 Soviet Problem Stakes at Los Alamitos, Finneus is 2-for-6 with earnings of $246,366.

Trained by Doug O'Neill, who is seeking his third win in the King Glorious after scoring with Found Money (2015) and Play Chicken (2020), for owner-breeder J.P. Reddam Racing LLC, Slow Down Andy was 11-10 in the Golden State Juvenile on the strength of an easy debut win Oct. 9. The chestnut is a son of Nyquist and the Square Eddie mare Edwina E.

Trained by Solis for a partnership that includes breeder Lovingier, Thirsty Always earned his third win in five starts by taking the Royal Owl Sept. 26 at Los Alamitos. The son of Stay Thirsty and the Not for Love mare Angela's Love has earned $147,600.

The other nominees, in alphabetical order, are Divine Feminine, Fast Draw Munnings, Fowler Blue, Love Candy, Moose Mitchell, Socal Red, So I'm Told, Straight Up G, and Youteyourhonor.

Entries for the King Glorious will be taken Thursday, Dec. 9.

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The primary catalysts for another carryover were Untouched Elegance, who won Saturday's fifth race at 7-1, and Brio Is Awesome, who scored an 11-1 surprise in the sixth.

The Pick Six begins in Sunday's fourth race. Post time is 12:30 p.m. and scheduled post time for the fourth is 1:58 p.m.

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The nine-day season was highlighted by stakes victories by talented 2-year-old Enbarr, a first off the claim score by Manhattan Up, and a gate-to-wire victory by Livingmybestlife, a $50,000 claim earlier in the year at Oaklawn Park.

The 32-year-old Cedillo finished the LACF meet with 18 victories, eight more than closest pursuer Kyle Frey. Cedillo also led the standings during the 2020 LACF Winter season.

Cedillo became the first jockey to win four races in a day twice at Los Alamitos. He first accomplished the feat Sept. 15, 2019, then matched it with a quadruple Sept. 25.

The other riders who have won four races in a day since daytime thoroughbred racing returned to Los Alamitos in 2014 are Drayden Van Dyke (July 6, 2014), Edwin Maldonado (Dec. 13, 2015), Kent Desormeaux (April 23, 2016), Assael Espinoza (Sept. 15, 2018), and Jorge I. Velez (Sept. 22, 2019).

Miller finished the LACF season with seven wins, one more than Steve Miyadi. Hall of Famer Bob Baffert was third with five. The title was the sixth Miller has either shared or won outright at Los Alamitos since daytime thoroughbred racing returned in 2014.

A son of Brody's Cause owned by Baoma Corporation, Enbarr rallied past stablemate Montebello in the final sixteenth of a mile to win the $75,000 Capote Sept. 18 under Van Dyke, giving Baffert a 1-2 finish.

Taken for $80,000 by trainer Jonathan Wong for Brent Malmstrom's KAM Racing Stable, Manhattan Up, a 5-year-old Street Boss gelding, responded to the addition of blinkers in capturing the $100,000 Los Alamitos Special Sept. 19. He was ridden by Tiago Pereira.

Livingmybestlife, a 3-year-old daughter of The Big Beast, has now won three of five since being claimed by John Sadler for Hronis Racing out of her April 8 debut, when she finished second. She was never seriously challenged in her local debut, defeating Stella Noir and three others in the $75,000 Lucky Spell Sept. 24.

The meet's other stakes winners were Loud Mouth – via disqualification – in the E.B. Johnston, and Samurai Charm, who earned her fifth consecutive victory leading throughout in the Dark Mirage.

In terms of business, all-sources handle for the LACF season showed a gain of 18% over comparable days in 2019. There was no September meet at Los Alamitos in 2020.

“While participation as the entry box could have been better, we very much appreciate those owners and trainers who did participate,'' said F. Jack Liebau, vice president of the Los Alamitos Racing Association. “The (handle) increase was more than 10% of what we had aggressively estimated and was attributable to an incredible 65% increase in advance deposit wagering in Southern California.

“We're looking forward to our upcoming Winter meet where purses will be substantially higher.''

Daytime thoroughbred racing will return to Los Alamitos for the seven-day Winter season Friday, Dec. 3.

Racing will be conducted through Sunday, Dec. 12. The Winter meet will be highlighted by a pair of graded races for 2-year-olds – the $300,000 Grade 1 Starlet for fillies Saturday, Dec. 4, and the $200,000 Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity Saturday, Dec. 11. Both will be run at 1 1/16 miles.

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