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Los Alamitos Quarter Horse Picks & Predictions — September 20, 2026

September 20, 20268 racesAll Los Alamitos Quarter Horse picks

Sunday at Los Alamitos and conditions couldn't be much better — 76 degrees, partly cloudy skies, and a fast dirt surface primed for the kind of explosive speed that makes quarter horse racing so addictive. Eight races are on the slate today, mixing claiming and allowance company across distances that range from a blistering 300 yards all the way out to 870 yards, where a little more stamina enters the equation.

This is a deep, well-rounded card. You've got short-field sprints where a single gate jump can decide everything, a couple of allowance spots that should draw sharper horses moving up in class, and a maiden claiming opener to kick things off. Plenty of angles to attack from, whether you're playing straight win bets or hunting for exotic value in the multi-race wagers.

Best Bets

Race 1

1:25 AM EDT

Claiming · 4 1/2 fur · Dirt

Two horses separate themselves on the ratings sheet in this 4.5-furlong claiming opener, but the morning line tells a different story — setting up a potential overlay situation worth watching.

win3Crypto CrazeML 2/1

Crypto Craze tops our TrackWiz ratings at 88.54 and carries a 26% career win rate — the best in this field by a wide margin. Edgar Payeras gets the mount, and that pairing should be motivated in what looks like the most capable horse in the race on paper. The 2/1 morning line is fair but the ratings edge is substantial enough that this is a clear top selection at the distance.

place1Westport CaptainML 9/5

Westport Captain draws the rail for Ricardo S. Ramirez and posts an 80.5 TrackWiz rating — second-best in the field. Trainer Vann Belvoir also saddles Levon in this same race, so he has two shots, and Captain looks like the stable's stronger entry based on the rating gap. At 9/5 on the morning line, Captain may not offer great win value, but figures to be in the mix for a piece.

show5Speed of the NileML 4/1

Speed of the Nile at 4/1 rounds out our exotics with a 60.21 rating, landing comfortably in the middle of this field. The morning line price offers some value relative to the horses ahead of her, and trainer Sally P. Rivera gives this one a shot to show up for a share. A good safety net in trifecta construction.

Race 2

1:51 AM EDT

Claiming · 2 1/2 fur · Dirt

A tight 2.5-furlong dash with two horses bunched near the top of the ratings sheet and a morning line that keeps things honest — pace will be everything over this ultra-short sprint.

win5Run Auntie T RunML 2/1

Run Auntie T Run shares the field's top TrackWiz rating at 88.54 and gets Ricardo S. Ramirez in the irons, one of the more reliable names on this circuit. Trainer Jesus J. Uranga puts this one in with purpose, and a 14% career win rate is workmanlike for a claiming runner. In a 2.5-furlong sprint, out of the gate speed and a confident ride are paramount — this combination checks both boxes.

place1Promise Me KatML 3/1

Promise Me Kat brings a 22% career win rate — best in the field — and a strong 84.37 rating to back it up. Trainer Angela Maria Aquino teams with Justine Klaiber, and the 3/1 morning line is reasonable for a horse with that kind of win consistency. She's a legitimate threat to beat the top pick and fits comfortably underneath in your exactas.

show3Oak Creek GalML 7/2

Oak Creek Gal at 7/2 posts a 74.97 TrackWiz rating, slotting in as the third-best horse on our numbers. Jesse P. Gonzalez takes the mount for trainer Felix L. Gonzalez, and at that price, Oak Creek Gal offers some value as a show ticket and trifecta anchor. Short sprints can be unpredictable enough that having her covered makes sense.

Race 3

2:15 AM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 4 1/2 fur · Dirt

Wide-open maiden claiming affair at 4.5 furlongs where nobody in the field has broken their maiden — and our top-rated horse is nearly 40 points ahead of the rest on the TrackWiz scale.

win6She's BackML 2/1

She's Back enters as the class of this maiden field with an 88.54 TrackWiz rating, a number that dwarfs the competition in a race where nobody has won before. Edgar Payeras is a solid pick-up in the irons, and trainer Jamey R. Thomas has positioned this filly at 2/1 on the morning line — fair given the ratings dominance. In maiden claiming company, a horse with this kind of edge on the numbers deserves to be your top selection.

place2MagilliganML 8/1

Magilligan is our place pick at 8/1, carrying the second-highest rating in the race at 60.31 and showing an avgSpeed of 55. Trainer Jorge Bautista and jockey Erick Garcia will be looking to catch some pace flow here, and the price makes Magilligan a compelling underneath play in exotics. When you can get the second-best horse on the sheet at 8/1, that's a value spot worth including.

show1Karma's RevengeML 8/1

Karma's Revenge also draws an 8/1 morning line with a 59.64 rating — nearly identical to Magilligan. Trainer Oscar Heredia and Justine Klaiber keep it simple here, and in a maiden field where everyone is still chasing that first win, having both longshot options covered in your trifectas is smart bankroll management. The ratings cluster at the bottom of this field suggests a messy, contested finish.

Our three free races today — Races 1, 2, and 3 — give you a solid cross-section of the card. Crypto Craze opens the day in a 4½-furlong claiming sprint and is our top-rated selection of the free races, drawing a clean morning-line of 2/1. In Race 2, the ultra-short 2½-furlong dash puts the premium on gate speed, and Run Auntie T Run gets the nod on our ratings. She's Back rounds out the free trio in the maiden claiming event — always the trickiest puzzle on any card, but our analysis points to value at the 2/1 morning line.

One thing worth watching across the board today: with a firm, fast surface at Los Alamitos and weather holding steady, early speed figures carry extra weight. Horses that can break clean and control position from the gate are at a structural advantage on days like this. Keep that bias in mind as you build your tickets.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 4

2:39 AM EDT

Allowance · 870 yd · Dirt

An allowance test at 870 yards where the ratings are split between a clear top horse and a field that includes some interesting form angles — including one trainer doubling up with two entries.

win5No More Ding DongsML 9/5

No More Ding Dongs leads all horses with an 88.83 TrackWiz rating and posts an 18% career win rate in allowance company. Ricardo S. Ramirez picks up the mount for trainer Jesus J. Uranga, a combo that has been visible throughout this card. The avgSpeed of 56 is competitive, and at 9/5 on the morning line, the favorite role is well-earned — this horse has the numbers to handle the step up in class.

place1Gunnin for GoldML 4/1

Gunnin for Gold at 4/1 is our place pick with a 69.8 rating and a 15% career win rate for trainer Jorge Farias. Salvador R. Vargas takes the mount, and Farias also runs Chapter One in this same race — but Gunnin for Gold's rating edge within the barn makes him the preferred option. At 4/1 morning line, there's legitimate value to be had if No More Ding Dongs finds trouble.

show4Disko TributeML 8/5

Disko Tribute rounds out the ticket with a 65.88 rating and a sharp 22% career win rate — one of the better conversion rates in this field. Edgar Payeras rides for Craig Dollase, and Disko Tribute's avgSpeed of 57 is actually the best recorded figure in the race. The 8/5 morning line makes him tough to use as a show-only play, but he deserves coverage in all exotic combinations.

Race 5

3:03 AM EDT

Claiming · 350 yd · Dirt

A 350-yard quarter horse sprint where Fyrestorm has a clear ratings edge, but two horses share the same morning line odds and all three top picks are packed within a tight price range.

win3FyrestormML 9/5

Fyrestorm tops the field at 88.83 on the TrackWiz scale and brings a 23% career win rate — best among the contenders by a clear margin. Irving Lara handles the mount for trainer Sergio Morfin, and at 9/5, the morning line respects the edge. In ultra-short quarter horse sprints, the horse that breaks clean and has the most talent usually controls the outcome, and Fyrestorm looks like that horse here.

place2Run Thru the NiteML 2/1

Run Thru the Nite at 2/1 is our place pick, carrying an 82.54 rating that makes him a legitimate second-best in this field. Martin Arriaga gets the call for trainer Michael V. Casselman, who also saddles Quickie Shine — giving the barn two shots at the board. If Fyrestorm gets beat, Run Thru the Nite is most likely the one doing the beating.

show4Quickie ShineML 2/1

Quickie Shine is Casselman's second entry and rates third on our numbers at 71.74, with Justine Klaiber aboard at 2/1 on the morning line. The trainer double is worth noting — Casselman clearly likes his chances with this pair, and having two horses in a five-horse field from the same barn gives the stable an edge in pace management. Quickie Shine is a reasonable show play and trifecta component at the price.

Race 6

3:29 AM EDT

Claiming · 300 yd · Dirt

In this 300-yard dash, the top two horses on the ratings sheet are separated by just six points — it shapes up as a two-horse battle with the rest of the field playing for a piece.

win1Luna SofiaML 9/5

Luna Sofia enters at 9/5 with the field's top TrackWiz rating of 88.83 and a 16% career win rate. Armando R. Cervantes rides for trainer Jesus Nunez, who also saddles Echicera in Race 8 — suggesting a stable comfortable operating at this meet. Luna Sofia's rating advantage over the field is decisive in a short 300-yard race where there's no time for the pace to shake out differently.

place4Quick EnoughML 3/1

Quick Enough at 3/1 is our place selection with an 82.92 rating — second-best in the race — and an impressive 25% career win rate that ties for the highest in the field. Henry Reynoso Lopez rides for trainer Paul C. Jones, who doubles up with Martha Starr. Quick Enough is the stronger of the Jones entries on the ratings sheet and figures to be right there at the wire.

show5Mr LioML 4/1

Mr Lio at 4/1 posts a 64.83 rating and a 20% career win rate for trainer Jorge Farias and jockey Jesus Rios Ayala. The Farias barn has been active throughout this card, and Mr Lio offers some pricing value as the third-best horse on our numbers in a five-horse field. Including him in your trifecta underneath the top two is the right approach here.

Race 7

3:53 AM EDT

Allowance · 350 yd · Dirt

Four of the five horses in this 350-yard allowance share a 33% career win rate — this is one of the more evenly matched fields on the card, making the ratings edge all the more important.

win5Sweet Aguila MereML 9/5

Sweet Aguila Mere earns our top pick with the field-high TrackWiz rating of 88.83 and a 33% career win rate that matches the class of this field. Armando Viramontes rides for trainer Rodolfo Viramontes — a family operation that clearly knows this horse well. At 9/5 on the morning line, Sweet Aguila Mere is the right favorite, and our numbers back it up with the widest margin over the field.

place3Blue Eyes CowboyML 2/1

Blue Eyes Cowboy is our place pick at 2/1 — a tight morning line price that reflects how competitive this race is. The 80.86 TrackWiz rating is solid, and Justine Klaiber gets a live mount for trainer Eddie D. Willis. Blue Eyes Cowboy's 33% career win rate keeps him firmly in the win conversation too, so don't be afraid to key him on top in select tickets.

show1Daddys CurlML 4/1

Daddys Curl at 4/1 brings a 33% career win rate and a 69.16 TrackWiz rating — the kind of profile that shows up at the wire in competitive allowance sprints. Eduardo Nicasio rides for trainer Paul C. Jones, and the 4/1 price on a horse with that win consistency deserves attention. In a race this even, Daddys Curl is a legitimate show play and a value add to any trifecta.

Race 8

4:17 AM EDT

Allowance · 300 yd · Dirt

The biggest field of the night at eight horses over 300 yards — with a wide range of ratings and morning line prices, this one sets up as a natural chaos race where the top picks carry real value.

win2HardtoxplainML 3/1

Hardtoxplain leads our analysis with an 87.08 TrackWiz rating and draws Martin Arriaga for trainer Juan G. Aleman. The 3/1 morning line is reasonable for a horse that sits atop our numbers in a wide-open eight-horse field. What stands out here is that while Muscle Max may be closer on the morning line at 5/2, Hardtoxplain's rating edge is significant — and that matters when the field thins out in an instant at 300 yards.

place4Muscle MaxML 5/2

Muscle Max at 5/2 is our place pick and carries a 73.23 rating alongside a 25% career win rate — the best conversion figure among the main contenders. Rodrigo Aceves gets the mount for trainer Elena Andrade, and this horse figures to be competitive right up to the wire. With a 25% win rate, Muscle Max has a track record of finishing what he starts, making him a key underneath horse.

show7Bear DownML 7/2

Bear Down at 7/2 posts a 61.35 rating with Justine Klaiber aboard for trainer Michael V. Casselman, who has had multiple runners throughout this card. In an eight-horse field, finding the third-best horse at 7/2 is good trifecta construction — Bear Down has enough rating support to finish in the money while offering a price that keeps your exotic tickets profitable if he hits.

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Bottom line: Los Alamitos is serving up a clean, fast Sunday with eight races worth your attention. Crypto Craze, Run Auntie T Run, and She's Back are your free best bets to get started — and Fyrestorm and No More Ding Dongs headline the premium side of the card. Full pace scenarios, exotic strategies, and the complete top-to-bottom breakdown are waiting for subscribers. Good luck out there — let's cash some tickets.

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