Flores to Ride M One Rifle

Jockey David Flores has taken a call to ride M One Rifle for the first time in the $100,000 Grade III Los Angeles Handicap at six furlongs Saturday, agent Craig O’Bryan confirmed Sunday.

Flores replaces Mike Smith, who had ridden the 4-year-old gelding in all his previous nine starts for trainer Bruce Headley. Smith will be in New York that day riding Drosselmeyer in the Belmont Stakes.

Headley and Flores teamed to win the race in 2008. Headley, who also won with Son of a Pistol in 1999 and Kona Gold in 2002, seeks to equal the record of four Los Angeles victories shared by Buster Millerick and John Sadler.

M One Rifle, winner of the Grade I Malibu Stakes in December, finished third in a strong optional claiming race at six furlongs here May 6 after hopping at the start.

Cost of Freedom, who led all the way to win that race by 4 ½ lengths in 1:08.36, and runner-up Stoneside are also expected back. Cost of Freedom, winner of the Grade I Ancient Title Stakes in 2008, will again be ridden by Tyler Baze in quest of a record fifth Los Angeles victory for Sadler.

Stoneside, winner of the 2008 San Simeon Handicap, will be ridden by Martin Pedroza for Julio Canani.

Other probable starters include Bet On Victor (Rafael Bejarano), Hiya Silver (Joe Talamo), Jiggly (Victor Espinoza), My Summer Slew (Alonso Quinonez) and E Z’s Gentleman.

Bet On Victor worked a bullet five furlongs in 58.40 for trainer Vladimir Cerin, while Golden Gate shipper Jiggly drilled the same distance in 59.80 for conditioner Bill Morey, Jr.