Daily Picks

Los Alamitos Quarter Horse Picks & Predictions — July 18, 2026

Saturday, July 18, 20268 racesLos Alamitos Quarter Horse

It's a beautiful Saturday at Los Alamitos — clear skies, 76°F, and a fast dirt surface that should reward early speed all afternoon. Perfect conditions for the sprinters and quarter horses that call this track home.

Eight races are on the board today, mixing Maiden Claimers and Allowance events on the Thoroughbred side with a pair of high-stakes Trials closing out the card — the kind of races where futures get made. The short distances here (we're talking 110 yards to 4½ furlongs) mean there's almost no margin for error: break clean or go home.

TrackWiz has full analysis on all eight races. Three are unlocked for every reader, and the back five — including both Trials and the 350-yard Maiden featuring She Looks Fast — are available to subscribers.

Best Bets

Race 1

2:40 AM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 4 1/2 fur · Dirt

A maiden claiming opener where the top two TrackWiz-rated horses are separated by less than two points — expect a heated battle between the 2 and 6 posts, with the rest of the field playing for scraps.

win6Beauty JennyML 2/1

Beauty Jenny draws the outside post but her TrackWiz rating of 88.54 leads this maiden claiming field by a comfortable margin, and her average speed figure of 54 ties for the best in the race. Trainer Angela Maria Aquino sends her out with Cesar Ortega in the irons, a pairing worth noting in a competitive 4.5-furlong sprint. The morning line has her at 2/1, which feels about right given the form — she's the most complete package on paper in what is otherwise a very beatable field.

place2Free NominationML 8/5

Free Nomination is the lukewarm favorite at 8/5 on the morning line, and with a TrackWiz rating of 87 and an average speed of 54, there's clear justification for that confidence. Trainer Oscar Heredia rolls Pedro Flores into the saddle, a solid combination for a short dirt sprint. She's the likeliest threat to Beauty Jenny and a safe place bet if you want to protect yourself against a price reversal.

show3Greg the GreatML 3/1

Greg the Great sits third in the TrackWiz ratings at 67.13 and checks in at 3/1 on the morning line, making him an interesting show option in a race where the top two are clearly a cut above. His average speed of 53 is respectable, and trainer Monty R. Meier gives him a puncher's chance at the minor share. In maiden claiming company at 4.5 furlongs, he projects as a natural stalker who can pick up a check if the top two have any trouble.

Race 2

3:06 AM EDT

Allowance · 110 yd · Dirt

This 110-yard dash is as short as it gets in racing — pure explosion off the gate — and I Am Candy's combination of a 35% career win rate and a 90 TrackWiz rating makes her a standout in what looks like a lopsided Allowance field.

win3I Am CandyML EVN

I Am Candy is the class of this field without question — a 35% career win rate is elite in quarter horse sprinting, and her TrackWiz rating of 90 is the highest mark in the race. Trainer Eddie D. Willis has her prepared, and Justine Klaiber is a capable pilot for a gate-to-wire job over 110 yards. She opens at even money, which won't excite the bankroll-builders, but the form is genuine and she's the right single in any exotic plays.

place1Ultra ShinyML 7/2

Ultra Shiny draws the rail and comes in with a TrackWiz rating of 74.13 — the second-best figure in the field. Trainer Adan Farias has Henry Reynoso Lopez aboard, and while her 13% career win rate is modest, the 110-yard format tends to compress the field and give deeper prices a longer look. At 7/2, she offers solid place value if I Am Candy runs to her rating.

show2The Lady Is a VampML 3/1

The Lady Is a Vamp is no slouch here — a 30% career win rate is genuinely strong, and her TrackWiz rating of 71.43 gives her the third-best figure on the card. Trainer Paul C. Jones has her at 3/1, which seems fair for a horse with that win percentage in allowance company. She's a legitimate show play and could surprise if I Am Candy has any gate trouble in this ultra-short dash.

Race 3

3:30 AM EDT

Claiming · 4 1/2 fur · Dirt

A nine-horse claiming field at 4.5 furlongs sets up as a genuine pace duel at the top, with Eielson drawing a favorable post and carrying the strongest TrackWiz rating, but Tascadero's double-digit career win rate makes the show spot more competitive than the morning line suggests.

win2EielsonML 2/1

Eielson is the clear top choice here — his TrackWiz rating of 88.54 is the best in the field, and he matches Grey Power's average speed figure of 55, the highest posted mark in this race. Trainer Craig Dollase is a respected conditioner, and Edgar Payeras gets the call from post two — a clean, inside draw in a sprint. At 2/1 on the morning line, he's a deserving favorite with form to back it up and a career win rate of 9% that suggests he knows how to finish.

place1Grey PowerML 9/2

Grey Power comes in with a TrackWiz rating of 75.25 and an average speed of 55 — he matches Eielson's speed figure and figures to be forwardly placed from the rail. Pedro Flores is a reliable pilot for this type, and trainer Sergio Morfin sends him out at 9/2 on the morning line. If Eielson gets any traffic or breaks slowly, Grey Power is poised to benefit from the inside draw and could easily run second.

show6TascaderoML 6/1

Tascadero is the most interesting show play in this race — his 11% career win rate is the best among all nine starters and suggests a horse who regularly finds a way to compete. Trainer Troy Dial has him at 6/1, which is where the value lives in a wide field like this. He doesn't have a posted speed figure from our data, but that win rate in claiming company tells a story — he's a professional who earns checks.

Our three free plays today hit a nice range of conditions. Beauty Jenny opens the card at 2/1 in a 4½-furlong Maiden Claimer — she's our top-rated pick in Race 1 with an 88.54 TrackWiz rating, and the morning line feels about right for a horse we think has a real edge at this level. In Race 2, I Am Candy goes postward at even money in the Allowance sprint over 110 yards — that's a blink-and-you'll-miss-it distance where we like her chances at the wire. Race 3 brings Eielson back into a Claiming field at 4½ furlongs, also 2/1 on the morning line with an identical 88.54 rating — a class situation worth watching closely.

One thread connecting all three free picks: on a clear, fast Los Alamitos dirt track, early speed is king. Horses that can get out of the gate cleanly and apply pressure immediately have a distinct edge today, and all three of our free selections profile as exactly that type.

Full Card Analysis

Race 4

3:54 AM EDT

Maiden · 350 yd · Dirt

This 350-yard maiden sprint is locked between two horses — Redd Line and Apollitical Eye Mrl — who carry a significant rating gap over the rest of the field, setting up as a true two-horse show with the rest battling for the minor money.

win3Redd LineML 8/5

Redd Line tops this maiden field with a TrackWiz rating of 89.12 — the best mark in the race — and comes in as the 8/5 morning line favorite under Ricardo S. Ramirez for trainer Sergio Morfin. In a 350-yard maiden sprint, gate speed and raw ability are everything, and nothing in this data points to anyone matching Redd Line's projected form. Morfin and Ramirez are a sharp combination for short sprints, and at 8/5, the price reflects a horse who is expected to deliver.

place1Apollitical Eye MrlML 3/1

Apollitical Eye Mrl has a TrackWiz rating of 79.11 — second-best in the field and a full ten points clear of the next horse. Gabriel Angel Gomez Lara takes the mount for trainer Jaime H. Gomez, and at 3/1 on the morning line, he's a natural place selection. In a maiden sprint this short, you need separation between your top two, and the rating gap between Apollitical Eye Mrl and the third-best horse (Squeaker at 55.83) gives you that cushion.

show5SqueakerML 7/2

Squeaker and Valiant Resolve share identical TrackWiz ratings of 55.83 and matching 7/2 morning lines, making this the trickiest show spot of the card. We're going with Squeaker — trained by James W. Glenn Jr. with Cesar Ortega up — purely on the basis of post position advantage in a sprint this short, where a clean break can be the difference. At 7/2, either of this pair offers value in the show slot, and Squeaker is a reasonable play to round out your exacta or trifecta tickets.

Race 5

4:18 AM EDT

Allowance · 300 yd · Dirt

Three horses in this 300-yard Allowance sprint share a 33% career win rate, but Jessonefamouseagle's TrackWiz rating of 87.81 creates a meaningful edge at the top, making this a case of one clear class horse facing a competitive but beatable group.

win1JessonefamouseagleML 5/2

Jessonefamouseagle carries a TrackWiz rating of 87.81 — the highest in the field by over 26 points — and matches the 33% career win rate of three other entrants, meaning his edge is about quality, not just volume. Trainer Paul C. Jones sends him out with Henry Reynoso Lopez from the rail, a clean post in a 300-yard sprint where there's no room for error. At 5/2 on the morning line, he's the play — his rating advantage is too substantial to overlook in a race this short.

place3College BoyML 3/1

College Boy comes in third on the TrackWiz ratings at 61.37 and shares that 33% career win rate with his top rivals. Trainer James W. Glenn Jr. gives him to Cesar Ortega at 3/1 — a fair price for a horse with legitimate winning credentials. What separates him from Cap Please and Raising Tell in this spot is a slight edge in the rating, and in a six-horse field at 300 yards, small advantages compound quickly.

show4Cap PleaseML 7/2

Cap Please has a TrackWiz rating of 59.03 and a 25% career win rate — solid numbers for this level. Trainer Lindolfo Diaz sends him out with Armando Viramontes at 7/2, and while he falls short of the top two on raw rating, his win percentage shows he's no stranger to the winner's circle. He's a legitimate show play, especially in trifecta tickets where you're trying to maximize value at a winnable price.

Race 6

4:44 AM EDT

Maiden · 350 yd · Dirt

She Looks Fast commands attention as the even-money morning line choice with a perfect 90 TrackWiz rating in this 350-yard maiden sprint, but My Favorite Jeans and Express Train offer enough separation from the rest to make the show slot mildly interesting.

win2She Looks FastML EVN

She Looks Fast draws post two and carries the maximum TrackWiz rating of 90 — a dominant figure in a maiden sprint where she's going off at even money. Trainer Jose Antonio Flores has Irving Lara in the irons, and at 350 yards, you want the horse with the best projected gate-to-wire ability, which this filly clearly has on paper. The name might be a bit on the nose, but the form supports the favorite tag — she's the most likely winner on the card tonight.

place1My Favorite JeansML 7/2

My Favorite Jeans is the second-best rated horse in this field with a 68.83 TrackWiz score, a full 17 points better than the next competitor. Justine Klaiber picks up the mount for trainer Eddie D. Willis — a combination that has shown up prominently throughout tonight's card. At 7/2 on the morning line, she's a straightforward place play behind the heavy favorite, and the rating gap between her and the rest of the field makes this a relatively low-risk selection.

show6Express TrainML 5/1

Express Train is our show play at 5/1 — his TrackWiz rating of 53.33 is third-best in the field and he offers a touch more upside than the horses rated just below him. Trainer Juan G. Aleman sends him out with Martin Arriaga from post six, and in a maiden sprint, outside posts aren't a death sentence the way they might be at longer distances. At 5/1, he's a value-priced show play who rounds out a 2-1-6 trifecta combination worth considering.

Race 7

5:08 AM EDT

Trial · 350 yd · Dirt

This 350-yard Trial features a dominant top choice and a genuine battle for the second qualifying spot, with Texas Cowgirl 123 and Cape Blanco representing the class of the field — the question is whether the rest can keep pace long enough to make it interesting.

win3Cape BlancoML 2/1

Cape Blanco is the TrackWiz top selection in this Trial with a rating of 88.54 — the highest mark in the field. Trainer Jaime H. Gomez hands the reins to Justine Klaiber, who has been active all card and is clearly a go-to pilot tonight. At 2/1 on the morning line, Cape Blanco is the logical top choice in a Trial format where qualifying matters as much as winning, and the rating supports sending him out as the top of your exotic tickets.

place4Texas Cowgirl 123ML 9/5

Texas Cowgirl 123 is the morning line co-chalk at 9/5 with a TrackWiz rating of 71.84 — a solid second-best figure in this field. Trainer Lindolfo Diaz puts Armando Viramontes up, and in a Trial format where the top qualifiers advance, this filly has the profile to lock up a qualifying spot. She's the natural place play behind Cape Blanco and the kind of horse you want to include on top in your quinella and exacta reverses.

show5Kr Apollitical RunML 9/2

Kr Apollitical Run sits fifth in the ratings at 54.13 but draws post five with Jesse P. Gonzalez up for trainer Juan G. Aleman. At 9/2 on the morning line, he's the best-priced horse among those with double-digit separation from the bottom of the field. In a Trial where the show spot can sometimes be unlocked by a clean trip rather than raw speed, Kr Apollitical Run is worth including on exotic tickets as a deeper alternative.

Race 8

5:32 AM EDT

Trial · 350 yd · Dirt

The second Trial of the night features the tightest 1-2 matchup on the entire card — Queenship and Kr Candy Dragon are separated by less than half a point on the TrackWiz ratings, making this the marquee race of the evening for serious players.

win3QueenshipML 2/1

Queenship edges this Trial with a TrackWiz rating of 87.46, just ahead of Kr Candy Dragon's 87.08 — as close a top-two pairing as you'll see on any card. Gabriel Angel Gomez Lara picks up the mount for trainer Scott Willoughby, drawing the middle post in a seven-horse field. She's installed as the 2/1 morning line choice, and given that this is a Trial format where qualifying is the primary objective, she's the top of our tickets.

place4Kr Candy DragonML 3/1

Kr Candy Dragon is the most compelling place bet of the card — a TrackWiz rating of 87.08 puts him in a virtual dead heat with the win pick, and trainer Juan G. Aleman has Martin Arriaga up from post four. At 3/1 on the morning line, there's genuine value here; in a race this close at the top, the order of finish between these two could come down to a gate jump or a step at the wire. He's a strong place play and a natural reversal in your exacta against Queenship.

show6PelaossecretmongooseML 9/2

Pelaossecretmongoose — and yes, that's the name we're rolling with — posts a TrackWiz rating of 54.17, the third-best figure in this Trial. Rodrigo Aceves gets the mount for trainer Elena Andrade from post six at 9/2 on the morning line. He's clearly a tier below the top two, but in a Trial format where things can go sideways quickly, he's the most logical candidate to pick up a qualifying spot if either of the chalk horses has any trouble out of the gate.

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Today's card at Los Alamitos is built for action — fast conditions, short distances, and a pair of Trials that will have serious horseplayers circling the late races. Our top plays are Beauty Jenny, I Am Candy, and Eielson in the free races, with She Looks Fast, Cape Blanco, and Queenship headlining the premium side. Unlock the full card — including pace maps, exotic tickets, and Trial breakdowns — with a TrackWiz subscription at /pricing. Good luck out there.

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