Glatt Triples, O'Neill Doubles at Los Alamitos Race Course

Making his first start in more than two months, Classico responded with a 2 ½ length victory in Thursday’s $36,260 feature at Los Alamitos.

Owned by a partnership that includes Neil Haymes, Steven Keh, Devon Owen and Jim Richardson, the 3-year-old Hear No Evil colt was the first of two wins for leading trainer Doug O’Neill.

Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, Classico, the 17-10 second choice, pressed the pace outside 5-2 third choice Weirdhaircut Seth before taking over early in the stretch and going on to his third win in seven starts.

Out of the Cherokee Run mare Galloping Dancer, Classico completed the six furlongs in 1:09.54 and paid $5.40 and $3. The $22,200 payday increased his earnings to $66,585.

Loyalist, the longest shot in a field reduced to four after the scratch of Watchkeeper, rallied to finish second, a head in front of Weirdhaircut Seth. Secret Room, the 3-2 favorite, trailed. Loyalist returned $5.20 to place. There was no show wagering.

With three days left in the Spring meet, O’Neill, who also won Thursday’s fifth with favored Armored Car, has six victories, one more than Mark Glatt, who had three wins Thursday. Eric Kruljac and Mike Harrington are tied for third with four wins apiece.

Glatt swept the early double with Flexible Ethics and Shakeitupbetty – both ridden by Martin Pedroza – and captured the eighth with Jonny’s Choice.

Jockeys Fernando Perez and Brandon Boulanger were involved in a spill in Thursday’s final race, a $10,000 claimer for older horses.

Macho Sox, Perez’s mount , broke down while leading approaching the stretch, and Boulanger, who was aboard the trailing Fiddler Blue, was unable to avoid the incident. Boulanger escaped injury while Perez was scheduled to be examined at a nearby hospital.  Macho Sox and Fiddler Blue were euthanized.

Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux was honored in a brief winner’s circle ceremony after Thursday’s second race for recently moving into fifth place on the all-time earnings list.

The top rider at the meet with 10 victories – three more than closest pursuer Mario Gutierrez -  Desormeaux, 46, surpassed fellow Hall of Famer Chris McCarron April 23.

 The Louisiana native won with four of his five mounts last Saturday at Los Alamitos, including an 8-1 upset with Finest City in the Grade II, $200,690 Great Lady M. Stakes. McCarron, who retired in June, 2002, finished his career with purse earnings of $263,986,005.

Through Thursday, Desormeaux’s total is $264,060,096. The four Hall of Famers ahead of him are Mike Smith ($274,565,339), Jerry Bailey ($296,188,735), Pat Day ($297,914,839) and leader John Velazquez ($343,436,967).