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Los Alamitos Quarter Horse Picks & Predictions — September 13, 2026

September 13, 20268 racesAll Los Alamitos Quarter Horse picks

It's a gorgeous Sunday at Los Alamitos — clear skies, 80°F, and a fast dirt strip that should have these Quarter Horses flying. Eight races are on the board today, ranging from a 300-yard maiden sprint all the way up to a 1,000-yard route that'll look more like a Thoroughbred affair than your typical QH card.

The headline event is Race 8, a Futurity at 350 yards — and if you've followed Los Al for any amount of time, you know Futurity days carry a different kind of electricity. Nuclear Arsenal lands on our radar at 4/1 on the morning line, and we think that's a workable price. But we're getting ahead of ourselves.

Today's card also features four Allowance sprints and a pair of Maiden Claimers that offer some real wagering angles for the patient handicapper. With conditions this clean, speed figures should translate well and early pace will be at a premium all afternoon.

Best Bets

Race 1

12:50 AM EDT

Claiming · 1000 yd · Dirt

A five-horse claiming sprint over 1000 yards where the TrackWiz ratings reveal a massive gap between the top two and the rest of the field — but the morning line tells a different story, making this a potential overlay situation.

win2Highland EchoML 3/1

Highland Echo lands on top of our TrackWiz ratings with an 87.08 — a full 16 points clear of the next-best horse — which is a significant separation in a five-horse field. Armando Aguilar gets the call for trainer Jorge Bautista, and while Echo's 6% career win rate looks modest, the rating suggests the form is trending sharply upward. At 3/1 on the morning line, there's real value here given how dominant the TrackWiz number is. The 1000-yard distance at Los Al suits horses that can sustain speed through a longer quarter horse sprint, and this one profiles as a class standout in this field.

place5HydroplaneML 4/1

Hydroplane checks in with a 71.96 TrackWiz rating and the highest average speed figure in the race at 56, which matters over a longer 1000-yard trip where raw speed can compound. The 4/1 morning line from trainer Gloria Haley's barn represents genuine value if you're building exactas around Highland Echo. A 4% career win rate won't wow you, but this horse's speed profile suggests more ability than the results indicate.

show4Mr AkinML 2/1

Mr Akin brings the most proven winning record in this field with a 25% career win rate — easily the best mark in the race — and trainer Sergio Morfin has a consistent performer on his hands. The 60.42 rating slots him third in our rankings, and the 2/1 morning line makes him the public's second choice. He's your safety net in tri-bets and exacta savers if the top two hold their spots.

Race 2

1:16 AM EDT

Allowance · 350 yd · Dirt

A 350-yard allowance that sets up as a two-horse battle at the top of the ratings, with Mission Possible and Cm Jessa Blue Monday both rating in the 80s while the rest of the field sits well below — the question is which of the top two breaks cleaner.

win4Mission PossibleML 3/1

Mission Possible tops the TrackWiz ratings at 87.08, matching the highest score in the race, and jockey Justine Klaiber pairs with trainer Michael V. Casselman — a combo worth noting in short-format quarter horse racing where gate-to-wire execution is everything. The 3/1 morning line offers genuine value against the 9/5 favorite, and a 14% career win rate in a 350-yard allowance field isn't a red flag — it's competitive. Our analysis puts Mission Possible a nose ahead based on overall rating, and at these odds, the risk-reward is squarely in your favor.

place5Cm Jessa Blue MondayML 9/5

Cm Jessa Blue Monday is the public's choice at 9/5 and for good reason — a 25% career win rate is the best in the field and the 82.96 rating is right behind Mission Possible. Ruben Lozano up for trainer Luke Lindsey gives this one a sharp pilot in a race that's essentially a sprint from the break. If Mission Possible stumbles out of the gate, Jessa Blue Monday has the talent to steal the win — which makes a place ticket here a strong protective play.

show2Racy FavoriteML 7/2

Racy Favorite slots into the show position with a 58.96 rating and a 12% career win rate, sitting comfortably in the middle of this field. The 7/2 morning line from Irving Lara and trainer Jose Antonio Flores makes this a sneaky value inclusion in exacta and trifecta tickets. Speed figures aren't available for any horse in this race, so ratings and win percentage do the heavy lifting — and Racy Favorite holds up solidly on both counts relative to the lower half of the field.

Race 3

1:40 AM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 300 yd · Dirt

A maiden claiming sprint at 300 yards where every horse in the field is winless — so it's all about projecting who has the most upside, and the ratings spread is wide enough to give us real confidence at the top.

win5Shining BrightML 4/1

Shining Bright is our top pick at 4/1 despite not being the morning line favorite, and that's exactly the kind of overlay our TrackWiz analysis loves to find. The 85.62 rating is comfortably the highest in this maiden field, and trainer Paul C. Jones puts Martin Arriaga in the irons — a straightforward setup in a short, unforgiving 300-yard dash. Every horse here is looking for their first win, but Shining Bright's rating suggests the most raw ability in the group, and 4/1 odds on the top-rated horse in a maiden field is a strong value proposition.

place3OtherworldlyML 8/5

Otherworldly is the morning line favorite at 8/5, and a 72.66 TrackWiz rating backs up the public confidence — it's the second-best score in the race by a comfortable margin. Henry Reynoso Lopez gets the mount for trainer Valentin A. Zamudio, a pairing that knows how to get a maiden competitive at Los Alamitos. If you're structuring a trifecta, Otherworldly deserves to be on top or underneath depending on how you feel about its edge over Shining Bright at the gate.

show1Faith EagleML 6/1

Faith Eagle is an interesting inclusion at 6/1 with a 66.24 rating — third-best in the field and notably ahead of the morning line favorite Gambling Cowboy (57.5 rating at 5/2). Trainer Felix L. Gonzalez sends out Damian Diaz Cruz, and the discrepancy between Faith Eagle's rating and its morning line suggests the public may be underestimating this one. In a wide-open maiden race, that kind of gap is exactly what you're hunting for in trifecta construction.

TrackWiz is unlocking the first three races of the card for every reader today. Highland Echo (Race 1, 3/1 ML) headlines a rare 1,000-yard Claiming affair — a true stamina test by Quarter Horse standards — and our rating of 87.08 gives us confidence this one holds up late when others are tying up. In Race 2, Mission Possible matches that same 87.08 TrackWiz rating in an Allowance sprint at 350 yards, making it one of our stronger top-line plays of the afternoon. Round out the free card with Shining Bright in Race 3, a 300-yard Maiden Claimer where the 4/1 morning line could represent early overlay value if the tote board opens soft.

With a dry, fast surface and temperatures sitting in a comfortable range, there's no weather-driven bias to fight today — which generally rewards horses that earned their numbers legitimately. All three of our free picks fit that profile cleanly.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 4

2:04 AM EDT

Allowance · 350 yd · Dirt

This 350-yard allowance features a heavy 4/5 morning line favorite in Lethal Lobo, but our TrackWiz analysis flips the script — making this a prime upset spot with legitimate value on top.

win1Next NorcoML 4/1

Next Norco rates as our top pick at 85.62 — actually edging out Lethal Lobo in our model despite being a 4/1 underdog on the morning line. Ricardo S. Ramirez takes the mount for trainer Scott Willoughby, who also has two other horses in the race (Go North and More of It), which tells you Willoughby knows this distance and surface cold. A 7% career win rate might look thin, but the rating says the talent is there, and getting 4/1 against a horse our model rates slightly lower is exactly the kind of number we want to back.

place5Lethal LoboML 4/5

Lethal Lobo is the 4/5 favorite and the public clearly respects it — but the 82.63 rating, while strong, sits just below Next Norco in our model. Armando R. Cervantes has the riding assignment for trainer Jose Antonio Flores, and a 12% career win rate for a horse sent off at 4/5 gives us some pause. That said, Lobo's talent is undeniable, and in a 350-yard race with no margin for error, it's a place ticket we'll happily take as a hedge.

show3More of ItML 5/2

More of It rounds out our ticket at 5/2 with a 64.48 rating and — notably — an 18% career win rate, the best winning percentage of any horse who isn't Laughlin in this race. Gabriel Angel Gomez Lara rides for the Willoughby barn, giving Scott Willoughby three shots in the same race. That kind of stable presence often signals confidence, and More of It's winning record makes it a legitimate trifecta piece at fair odds.

Race 5

2:28 AM EDT

Allowance · 300 yd · Dirt

A six-horse 300-yard allowance headlined by a top-rated horse going at a price — Checkn Eagle's rating stands alone at the top, but the pace scenario in a race this short means the break is everything.

win3Checkn EagleML 2/1

Checkn Eagle leads the field with an 88.54 TrackWiz rating — the highest mark of any horse on today's card in an allowance sprint — and the 2/1 morning line is a fair reflection of that edge. Ruben Lozano rides for trainer Lindolfo Diaz, and a 25% career win rate is the best among the top three contenders. In a 300-yard race, there's no room for a slow start, but Checkn Eagle's overall profile suggests a horse that's ready to fire — and 2/1 on an 88-rated sprinter is a number we're happy to play.

place5MumbalML 3/1

Mumbal comes in at 3/1 with a 75.2 rating and, impressively, a 37% career win rate — the highest in this entire field by a wide margin. Armando R. Cervantes takes the mount for trainer Jesus Nunez, and a horse that wins more than one-in-three career starts clearly knows how to get to the wire first. The rating gap between Mumbal and Checkn Eagle is real, but at 3/1 with that kind of winning record, Mumbal is more than capable of running second — or better.

show1Jo LeeML 5/2

Jo Lee slots into our show position with a 72.24 rating and a 17% career win rate, sitting in the top half of a competitive six-horse field. Henry Reynoso Lopez rides for trainer Elena Andrade, and at 5/2, Jo Lee is actually bet down tighter than Mumbal on the morning line — suggesting the public sees ability here too. As a trifecta piece, Jo Lee offers a sensible profile: solid rating, decent record, and fair odds.

Race 6

2:54 AM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 300 yd · Dirt

A 300-yard maiden claiming event where none of these horses have won a race yet and the ratings are tightly clustered — it's a wide-open dash where the margin between our top pick and the field is thin enough that the gate draw and the break could decide everything.

win5Jess TellML 2/1

Jess Tell tops our ratings in this maiden claimer at 58.33 and draws the morning line favorite role at 2/1, which is a comfortable alignment between public confidence and our model. Gerardo Vera rides for trainer Elena Andrade, who also conditions Plea Deal in Race 5 tonight — Andrade clearly has a strong book of horses on the card. In a race where none of these horses have hit the winner's circle, a modest ratings edge combined with the morning line favorite status is enough to anchor our ticket.

place1Mg London NightML 7/2

Mg London Night rates at 55.83 — just a hair behind Jess Tell — and Oscar M. Peinado gets the call for trainer Valentin A. Zamudio, who also saddled Otherworldly in Race 3. The 7/2 morning line is fair pricing on a horse that's essentially a coin flip away from the top of our ratings in a tight field. In these close maiden sprints, a place ticket at 7/2 is often the smarter play than gambling on the win.

show2Rosalinda HuntingML 4/1

Rosalinda Hunting rates at 55.00 — tied with Sassy Lulu for third in our model — and the 4/1 morning line from the Felix L. Gonzalez barn (Damian Diaz Cruz up) gives us exotic ticket value. Gonzalez also trains Dashing Target in this race, giving the barn two looks at the maiden condition, and Rosalinda Hunting's slight edge over Sassy Lulu in our ratings makes it the preferred Gonzalez runner for trifecta purposes.

Race 7

3:18 AM EDT

Allowance · 350 yd · Dirt

Scott Willoughby sends out two horses in this 350-yard allowance, but it's a horse from another barn that our ratings say is the one to beat — and the value plays right into bettors' hands.

win5Epic WindML 5/2

Epic Wind rates at a field-best 87.81 and goes at 5/2 on the morning line, a nice price on the top-rated horse in the race. Henry Reynoso Lopez rides for trainer Paul C. Jones, who also conditions Cyber Force in this race — Jones clearly isn't without options, but Epic Wind's rating speaks for itself. A 25% career win rate adds further credibility, and in a five-horse allowance at 350 yards, a horse that our model puts nearly 10 points clear of the second choice has a meaningful edge.

place3NorcoML EVN

Norco is listed at even money — the morning line favorite — and a 77.43 rating backs up the public's enthusiasm. Gabriel Angel Gomez Lara rides for trainer Scott Willoughby, who also enters Boardwalk in this race, but Norco is clearly the preferred Willoughby runner based on both odds and our model. A 30% career win rate is strong, and at even money, Norco's place ticket may be the safest bet on the card — though the win price won't excite anyone.

show4BoardwalkML 7/2

Boardwalk rates at 49.3 and checks in at 7/2 on the morning line as the second Willoughby entry, with Jesus Rios Ayala aboard. The 10% career win rate is the lowest among the top three in our ratings, but in a five-horse field with two Willoughby runners, there's always a chance the barn-favorite dynamic plays out. As a trifecta filler behind Epic Wind and Norco, Boardwalk at 7/2 offers a reasonable cushion without blowing up your ticket cost.

Race 8

3:42 AM EDT

Futurity · 350 yd · Dirt

The Futurity is the marquee race of the night — a loaded 10-horse field at 350 yards with multiple highly-rated contenders and a 6/5 morning line favorite whose perfect career record demands attention, even as our model backs a different horse.

win3Nuclear ArsenalML 4/1

Nuclear Arsenal tops our TrackWiz ratings at 85.62 and goes at 4/1 — a meaningful overlay against the 6/5 morning line favorite. Eduardo Nicasio rides for trainer Paul C. Jones, who saddles two horses in this Futurity, and Nuclear Arsenal's 50% career win rate in what appears to be a limited sample is a strong efficiency number. In a Futurity field this deep, getting the top-rated horse at 4/1 versus the 6/5 chalk is exactly the kind of situation where our model and the morning line diverge — and that divergence is where value lives.

place10Cv Fdddinasty ShanML 6/5

Cv Fdddinasty Shan is the 6/5 morning line favorite with a remarkable 100% career win rate — every start, a win — and a solid 82.07 TrackWiz rating that slots second in the field. Jesus Rios Ayala rides for trainer Lindolfo Diaz, and a perfect record heading into a Futurity is not something you dismiss lightly. Our model prefers Nuclear Arsenal on ratings, but a place ticket on Cv Fdddinasty Shan is a sensible overlay hedge given the unbeaten profile.

show4Celtic CowboyML 6/1

Celtic Cowboy rates at 81.01 — third-best in a 10-horse Futurity field — and Irving Lara rides for trainer Jose Antonio Flores, who also enters Test Pilot and Famous Cowboy to You in this race. A 25% career win rate is respectable against this level, and at 6/1 on the morning line, Celtic Cowboy is our favorite exotic piece in the race. In a Futurity with multiple 80-plus rated horses, a third-place finisher at 6/1 can make trifectas very lucrative.

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Los Alamitos is cooking today — perfect weather, a fast track, and an eight-race card with something for every kind of bettor. Highland Echo, Mission Possible, and Shining Bright are your free best bets to get started. For the complete picture, including Nuclear Arsenal's Futurity breakdown and our exotic ticket recommendations, subscribers have full access right now. Good luck out there — let's make it a profitable Sunday.

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