Los Alamitos ready for first Thoroughbred meet of 2020

The first of two Thoroughbred meets at Los Alamitos this year will begin Friday, June 26.

The seven-day Summer Thoroughbred Festival will continue through Sunday, July 5 with racing conducted Friday-Sunday (June 26-28) the first week and Thursday-Sunday (July 2-5) the final week. Post time each racing day is 1 p.m.

The season will be highlighted by a pair of graded stakes races – the Grade 2, $200,000 Great Lady M. for fillies and mares (3-year-olds & up) at 6 ½ furlongs and the Grade 3, $150,000 Los Alamitos Derby for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles.

Both will be run Saturday, July 4. The Los Alamitos Derby is part of the “Road to the Kentucky Derby’’ in 2020. The winner will receive 20 points towards a berth in the Kentucky Derby, which will be run Saturday, Sept. 5, at Churchill Downs.

The wagering menu includes the Pick Six – with the traditional 70-30 split -  a pair of $1 Pick 4’s – races 2-5 and the final four races – as well as the extremely popular Players’ Pick 5 – a 50-cent minimum wager with a reduced 14% takeout rate which is offered on the first five races.

The other stakes race to be offered is the $100,000 Soi Phet for 3-year-olds and up bred or sired in California.

Run at one mile, the Soi Phet – which was formerly named the Bertrando (2014-2019) - honors a gelding who was a five-time stakes winner at Los Alamitos prior to his retirement at age 11 last year. Two of his local victories came in the Bertrando, including the inaugural running in 2014.