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Los Alamitos Quarter Horse Picks & Predictions — July 5, 2026

July 5, 202610 racesAll Los Alamitos Quarter Horse picks

This card ran on July 5, 2026.

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Race 15Sheza Candy WagonML EVN9:40 PM EDT

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Last 30 days at Los Alamitos Quarter Horse: our top pick won 6 of 23 races (26%) and finished in the money in 16.

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Happy post-holiday Sunday at Los Alamitos. The track is fast, the skies are clear, and temperatures are sitting at a comfortable 76°F — ideal conditions for the short, explosive sprints that define quarter horse racing. Ten races are on the board today, and this card has some real teeth to it.

Seven of those ten races are trials — qualifying heats that carry serious implications for horses trying to punch their ticket to bigger futurity and derby finals down the road. When the money matters beyond just today's purse, connections tend to show up with their best efforts. Expect genuine competition and honest times throughout the afternoon.

The headliner is Race 10, a 300-yard Handicap Stakes that closes out the card on a high note. Our analysis has surfaced a 6/1 morning-line shot, Cheater, as the top play — and in a field where the favorite doesn't always fire over the short distance, that kind of price deserves serious attention.

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Race 1

9:40 PM EDT

Maiden · 300 yd · Dirt

A wide-open maiden sprint at 300 yards where TrackWiz ratings separate the contenders from the longshots — the top three rated horses are clustered tightly enough to make the exacta and trifecta the real plays here.

win5Sheza Candy WagonML EVN

Sheza Candy Wagon opens as the even-money morning-line favorite and carries the highest TrackWiz rating in the field at 60 — a meaningful edge in a maiden field where raw ability often tells the whole story. Irving Lara gets the call, and having a trusted pilot in a short-field maiden sprint matters when it comes to breaking alertly out of the gate. At 300 yards, there's no room for a slow start, and this filly looks like the class of what is otherwise a very green group.

place4Behind the BarML 4/1

Behind the Bar (4) sits second in TrackWiz ratings at 55 and draws a fair 4/1 morning line for trainer Michael V. Casselman. In maiden sprints like this, it's all about gate speed and natural ability, and this one's rating suggests enough raw talent to earn a check even if Sheza Candy Wagon is simply better on the day.

show7Czech Berry DelightML 6/1

Czech Berry Delight (7) rounds out the top three in our ratings at 54.1 and offers solid value at 6/1 on the morning line. Henry Reynoso Lopez takes the reins, and trainer Felix L. Gonzalez puts out a horse that profiles as a legitimate trifecta contender — the kind of third option that can quietly earn a spot when the top two are dueling it out.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

Race 2: Free with an Account

Race 2

10:06 PM EDT

Trial · 400 yd · Dirt

A nine-horse trial at 400 yards with a clear class standout at the top, but two strong mid-tier horses capable of making this competitive if the favorite breaks poorly.

win1Brother RayML 2/1

Brother Ray (1) is the standout in this field with a TrackWiz rating of 88.54 — more than 10 points clear of the second-best horse — and backs it up with a 33% career win rate, which is genuinely strong for quarter horse competition. The 2/1 morning line reflects his status, but honestly this looks like fair odds for a horse with this kind of separation from the field. Irving Lara, who pilots the Flores barn's top guns, gets the mount and that's a reassuring sign going 400 yards.

place6More of ItML 3/1

More of It (6) rates second in the field at 78.94 and punches in at a 25% career win rate — solid credentials for a 3/1 shot. The Scott Willoughby barn puts up Gabriel Angel Gomez Lara, and while Brother Ray looks tough to beat, More of It has the rating profile to grab the runner-up spot with confidence.

show3Shiny NewML 6/1

Shiny New (3) is the value piece in this trifecta at 6/1 on the morning line, and that 50% career win rate is the kind of number that gets your attention — even in a small sample. Trainer Valentin A. Zamudio saddles this one for Ruben Lozano, and the TrackWiz rating of 53.99 places it squarely in the mix for third money.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 9 runners

The first three races are unlocked for every TrackWiz reader, and they give us a nice early read on how the track is playing today. Race 1 is a 300-yard maiden sprint where Sheza Candy Wagon opens at even money — always worth watching how the rail and post positions are holding up in the opener before the trial action kicks off in earnest.

Races 2 and 3 are both 400-yard trials, and that extra distance compared to the 350-yard trials later in the card creates a slightly different pace dynamic — horses with a touch more stamina can separate late. Brother Ray (2/1, Race 2) and Doodah Cartel (7/5, Race 3) are our top picks in those heats, and both carry TrackWiz ratings north of 88, which gives us real confidence heading into the afternoon.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 3

10:30 PM EDT

Trial · 400 yd · Dirt

This 400-yard trial features a heavy favorite with elite-level ratings and a credible second choice, but a pair of interesting underneath horses give the trifecta some teeth.

win1Doodah CartelML 7/5

Doodah Cartel (1) comes in as the 7/5 morning-line favorite and earns it — a 89.42 TrackWiz rating leads this field by a wide margin, and a 46% career win rate adds real-world validation to those numbers. Henry Reynoso Lopez has the call for trainer Paul C. Jones, a barn that knows how to put horses into trials ready to fire. At 400 yards, early speed combined with natural talent is the formula, and this one checks every box.

place7Mayor HumdingerML 5/2

Mayor Humdinger (7) is the most intriguing number in the race from a win-rate perspective — a 75% career win mark is exceptional and suggests this horse converts when he's right. The 5/2 morning line is fair given that figure, and trainer Michael V. Casselman with Martin Arriaga aboard gives this one a sharp connections edge. The rating of 71.3 places him clearly second in the field.

show8SlatedtoshineML 6/1

Slatedtoshine (8) at 6/1 offers legitimate value for underneath tickets, sporting a 36% career win rate and a TrackWiz rating of 57.91. Trainer Roman Figueroa sends Edwin G. Escobedo out for a horse that rates third in the field — the kind of solid, consistent profile you want in your trifecta base.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

Race 4

10:54 PM EDT

Trial · 350 yd · Dirt

A 350-yard trial where one horse's TrackWiz rating towers over the field, but two unbeaten horses lurking at odds make the underneath spots genuinely interesting.

win3RomolandML 5/2

Romoland (3) carries the highest rating in this trial at 87.81, posting an enormous gap over the next-best horse — and that kind of separation in a TrackWiz rating usually reflects a real talent advantage. Trainer Paul C. Jones puts up Eduardo Nicasio in what looks like a prime setup, and at 5/2 on the morning line, there's still some value relative to how dominant this figure is. In a short sprint like 350 yards, getting away cleanly is critical, and this one profiles as the horse most likely to do that.

place4Safety UpML 3/1

Safety Up (4) carries a 50% career win rate for trainer Jose Antonio Flores, and Irving Lara — one of the busiest and most capable pilots in this barn's string — gets the call. The TrackWiz rating of 56.67 checks in third in the field, and the 3/1 morning line is workable for a horse with a proven ability to hit the board.

show5Golden TokenML 7/2

Golden Token (5) is the most fascinating number in this race: a 100% career win rate, however small the sample, is hard to dismiss. Trainer Valentin A. Zamudio puts Ruben Lozano up at 7/2, and a rating of 55.83 slots this one right in the mix for third money. If the gate break is clean, a perfect record adds real intrigue to this spot.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 7 runners

Race 5

11:18 PM EDT

Trial · 350 yd · Dirt

Test Pilot enters this 350-yard trial as the clear class standout, but three legitimate contenders make the place and show positions genuinely competitive for bettors looking to construct trifectas.

win1Test PilotML 5/2

Test Pilot (1) matches Romoland's top TrackWiz rating of 87.81 — the highest mark we've seen across the trials today — and backs it with a 66% career win rate that screams elite talent. Trainer Jose Antonio Flores puts Irving Lara up, keeping this runner in the capable hands of a jockey who knows exactly how this barn wants their horses ridden. At 5/2 on the morning line, you're getting a legitimate shot at a dominant horse at a price that reflects some competition, not a chalk squeeze.

place3Ap First to RocketML 7/2

Ap First to Rocket (3) opens at 7/2 with a TrackWiz rating of 55.83 for trainer Valentin A. Zamudio and Ruben Lozano. The rating slots this one clearly into the second tier of this field, and in a trial where the goal is to qualify for a future final, running second is perfectly acceptable — making this a natural place-ticket target.

show8Indiana FeverML 4/1

Indiana Fever (8) brings a 50% career win rate to the table, which gives trainer Michael V. Casselman's entry a legitimate floor of ability. Martin Arriaga gets the mount at 4/1 on the morning line, and the TrackWiz rating of 55 is close enough to the place pick to make this a trifecta-viable option for handicappers looking to round out their tickets.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

Race 6

11:42 PM EDT

Trial · 350 yd · Dirt

Contentious looks like the most dominant morning-line favorite on the entire card — a short price backed by elite ratings and a 66% win rate — but Getting Higher lurking at 6/1 gives value players something to work with underneath.

win4ContentiousML 6/5

Contentious (4) is the horse of the race in this trial, posting the top TrackWiz rating of 89.71 and a 66% career win rate that backs up every bit of that number. Eduardo Nicasio rides for trainer Paul C. Jones, a combination that has shown up well throughout today's card. The 6/5 morning line will likely compress at post time, so if you're playing win-only, this is a case where you accept the price because the talent gap is real.

place2Getting HigherML 6/1

Getting Higher (2) is our value play in this race — a TrackWiz rating of 75.15 that sits comfortably second in the field, yet the morning line opens at 6/1, which suggests the market is underestimating this one's ability to earn a check. Trainer Scott Willoughby sends Gabriel Angel Gomez Lara out on a horse that hasn't shown a career win rate yet, which likely explains the overlay — but raw ability doesn't always show up in past results.

show1Quite PerfectML 5/1

Quite Perfect (1) brings a 25% career win rate and a solid TrackWiz rating of 60.85 for trainer Juan G. Aleman and Martin Arriaga. At 5/1, this is a workable show ticket in a race where the top two horses are clearly better — but Quite Perfect has the consistency profile to fill out trifectas when the chalk runs as expected.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 7 runners

Race 7

12:06 AM EDT

Trial · 350 yd · Dirt

The most tightly-bunched field of the day at 350 yards — six of eight horses fall within 10 rating points of each other, making this trial a genuine pick-em and a prime spot for exotic players to get creative.

win3UptickML 4/1

Uptick (3) tops the field with a TrackWiz rating of 61.8 — a modest lead but meaningful when the field is this compressed — and trainer Juan G. Aleman puts Martin Arriaga up at 4/1 on the morning line. The 33% career win rate is respectable in this competitive environment, and Uptick's position as the top-rated runner in a tight field gives it a slight but real structural advantage heading into the gate.

place2Blackk MaggicML 2/1

Blackk Maggic (2) opens as the 2/1 morning-line choice despite rating second behind Uptick, which means the market may know something about this horse's recent works or condition. The 50% career win rate is excellent, and trainer Cesar De Alba puts Irving Lara — who has been busy all card — up on a horse that seems poised to hit the board at minimum.

show6Terrific FavoriteML 5/2

Terrific Favorite (6) posts a 50% career win rate for trainer Lindolfo Diaz with Armando Viramontes in the irons, and the 5/2 morning line suggests strong market support despite a rating of 57.5. This is the kind of horse you include in trifecta boxes — consistent enough to earn a spot, and the connections track record gives you confidence in the preparation.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

Race 8

12:32 AM EDT

Trial · 350 yd · Dirt

Sixth Sense is a clear class edge in this 350-yard trial with a 50% career win rate and the top rating, but the mid-tier of this field is interesting enough to keep exotics affordable.

win3Sixth SenseML 8/5

Sixth Sense (3) leads this field with a TrackWiz rating of 59 and a 50% career win rate — a combination that makes trainer Paul C. Jones's runner the clear selection. Eduardo Nicasio gets the mount in what is a familiar, comfortable pairing, and at 8/5 on the morning line, the price reflects legitimate market confidence. In a 350-yard sprint, horses with a proven record of converting wins are the safest anchors, and this one delivers exactly that.

place7Mammoth MountainML 7/2

Mammoth Mountain (7) opens at 7/2 with a TrackWiz rating of 55.83, making it the second-rated horse in the field for trainer Jose Antonio Flores and Ricardo S. Ramirez. The fact that this one has no career wins yet doesn't diminish the rating — and in a trial where finishing second still advances your horse, Mammoth Mountain looks well-positioned to grab the place spot.

show8TalkerML 9/2

Talker (8) brings a 50% career win rate for trainer James W. Glenn Jr., which is the kind of past-performance note that stands out in a field where most horses are winless. Cesar Ortega picks up the mount at 9/2, and the TrackWiz rating of 54.17 is strong enough to suggest this one can fill the trifecta and provide some return on your show ticket.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

Race 9

12:56 AM EDT

Trial · 350 yd · Dirt

Two horses — Lonely At Night and Recuperate — are separated by less than half a rating point at the top of this 350-yard trial, setting up what could be the closest finish of the day and making the exacta a must-play.

win2Lonely At NightML 9/5

Lonely At Night (2) earns the top spot in our ratings at 78.3 and carries a 66% career win rate — an exceptional conversion number that suggests this horse does exactly what it's supposed to do when ready. Trainer Michael V. Casselman sends Armando Viramontes out at 9/5 on the morning line, and the combination of elite rating and elite win rate makes this the most data-supported pick of the entire card. Expect this one to break alertly and never look back.

place1RecuperateML 5/1

Recuperate (1) is separated from the winner pick by a razor-thin margin — TrackWiz rating of 77.94 versus 78.3 — and also carries a 66% career win rate. Trainer James W. Glenn Jr. puts Oscar M. Peinado up at 5/1 on the morning line, which is a mild overlay given how close these two are. An exacta pairing these two in both directions is practically mandatory.

show4XimenareyML 6/1

Ximenarey (4) offers a different profile at 6/1 — a 25% career win rate and a rating of 61.17 that places this one clearly third in the field for trainer Jaime H. Gomez and Gabriel Angel Gomez Lara. This is your trifecta insurance: not as dominant as the top two, but clearly separated from the rest of the field and worth including in all your underneath combinations.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 7 runners

Race 10

1:20 AM EDT

Handicap Stakes · 300 yd · Dirt

The card closes with a Handicap Stakes at 300 yards that features a genuine overlay at the top — Cheater opens at 6/1 with the highest TrackWiz rating despite trainer Scott Willoughby also running two other horses in the same race, making the market dynamics here worth watching closely.

win5CheaterML 6/1

Cheater (5) is our top selection with a TrackWiz rating of 82.71 — the highest in the field by a significant margin — yet opens at 6/1 on the morning line, which qualifies this as the best overlay of the day. The 23% career win rate is modest but workable in a nine-horse handicap stakes field, and Ricardo S. Ramirez gets the mount for trainer Scott Willoughby. Worth noting: Willoughby also runs Up for Everything (1) and Boardwalk (4), but Cheater's rating tells us clearly which runner the barn believes in most.

place7Winners ShareML 4/1

Winners Share (7) rates second in the field at 67.5 with trainer Michael V. Casselman putting Ruben Lozano up at 4/1 on the morning line. The 14% career win rate is on the lower end, but in a nine-horse handicap stakes field at 300 yards, the place spot is absolutely attainable for a horse with this rating, and the value at 4/1 makes it a natural inclusion in your exacta underneath Cheater.

show6Kid CocineroML 9/2

Kid Cocinero (6) slots in third in our ratings at 58.02 and carries an 18% career win rate for trainer Angela Maria Aquino — the lone non-major-barn entry in the top tier of this field. Justine Klaiber gets the call at 9/2, and this horse's profile as a consistent finisher in a competitive stakes sprint makes it a smart trifecta addition. Trainer Aquino has this one ready for a big-field handicap spot, and that independent barn angle adds a layer of intrigue.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 9 runners

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A clear day, a fast track, and a loaded trial card — Los Alamitos is set up for a fun Sunday. Our free best bets are anchored by Brother Ray and Doodah Cartel in the early 400-yard trials, and we're circling Cheater in the closing Handicap Stakes as the day's top value play. Full pace analysis, exotic ticket structures, and premium picks for all seven remaining races are available to subscribers at /pricing. Good luck out there — let's find some winners.

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