Jonny's Choice, I Will Score Impress at Los Alamitos

Jonny’s Choice, the 4-5 favorite, completed a double for trainer Mark Glatt and jockey Santiago Gonzalez with a 3 ½-length victory in the $21,280 feature Friday at Los Alamitos.

Making his first start since losing by a nose at one mile July 12, the 6-year-old gelded son of Unusual Heat broke sharply, quickly engaged Congregationalist for the lead, shook off the 5-2 second choice, then easily repelled a mild challenge  from Sunrise Legacy at the top of the stretch.

Owned by Dan Agnew, William Branch and John Xitco, Jonny’s Choice drew away in the final eighth of a mile while completing the six furlongs  in 1:09.62.

Out of the Boundary mare Knows No Bounds, Jonny’s Choice won for the fourth time in 21 starts and increased his earnings to $141,176. The California bred paid $3.60, $2.60 and $2.10.

Justification rallied from last to finish second, a head in front of Finallygotabentley. The former returned $4 and $2.60 while the show price on Finallygotabentley, the longest shot in the field at 8-1, was $3.20.

Glatt and Gonzalez also teamed to win the first race with 1-2 favorite May B, who was making his first start since being claimed for $8,000 July 17 at Del Mar.

One race before Jonny’s Choice’s victory, I Will Score was an impressive debut winner for the Hall of Fame combination of trainer Jerry Hollendorfer and jockey Mike Smith.

A son of Roman Ruler and the Belong to Me mare Grassy Nellie, I Will Score ran to some fast local work, winning by 6 ½  lengths as the 13-10 favorite in the $50,750 maiden contest for 2-year-olds.

After breaking alertly, I Will Score, who was bred in Kentucky by owner Hans Poetsch, was content to track longshot Purrin’ Proud briefly, but there was little doubt about the outcome once he took over around the turn.

I Will Score, who had capped his preparation with a 1:11.80 drill a week earlier, paid $4.60, $3 and $2.60 while completing the 5 ½ furlongs in 1:03.04.

Mighty Moses, a debuting son of Candy Ride for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, finished second as the 3-1 second choice while 26-1 outsider Gone With It was third, 5 ¼ lengths behind the runner-up.

Trainer Doug O’Neill and jockey Mario Gutierrez also had a double, winning back-to-back with Octofy in the sixth and Harbaugh in the seventh.

Racing resumes Saturday at Los Alamitos. Post time is 2 p.m.

The nine-card is highlighted by the $75,000 E.B. Johnston Stakes for older California breds at one mile.

Motown Men, a three-time winner this year for Gulliver Racing LLC and trainer Ted H. West, is the 9-5 favorite on Russ Hudak’s morning line.

The Johnston goes as the eighth race. Approximate post time is 5:30 p.m.

Source: Los Alamitos Race Course