Los Alamitos Thoroughbred Picks & Predictions — June 27, 2026

Millbo Baggins is nearly identical to our top pick on ratings at 85.62, yet goes off at 4/1 on the morning line — that's a potential overlay worth exploiting in exactas. Trainer Aggie Ordonez puts Armando Ayuso aboard, and a 16% career win rate in a field like this is more than serviceable. Don't be surprised if Millbo Baggins flips the result.

Pacer is a fascinating show-ticket option with a 50% career win percentage — by far the highest in this field — suggesting a horse that wins when it fires. Trainer John W. Sadler is a Hall of Fame conditioner, and the 5/2 morning line reflects connections the market trusts. The TrackWiz rating of 57.5 is notably lower than the top two, but class and connections could make up the gap.

Noble Testament rates just behind at 57.5 with Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella conditions and the legendary Mike E. Smith in the saddle — a jockey-trainer combo that doesn't show up at the track without a live horse. The 5/2 morning line is fair, and at 53 on average speed, this one has shown something in the mornings worth tracking.

Sudeikis rates at 54.17 and gives you a second Baffert runner to key against, which makes the show spot interesting — if Faran breaks through, Baffert's barn clearly had it right and Sudeikis could easily be running them down for third. The 9/2 morning line offers legitimate show value in a deep, competitive maiden field.

Westport Captain rates second in our model at 76.03 with an average speed of 54 and draws the Vann Belvoir barn — a trainer who knows this track well. The 9/2 morning line is fair for a horse this profile, and an 11% career win rate in the claiming ranks tells you this one can find the board consistently.

Cultural posts a 66.04 TrackWiz rating and owns a 20% career win percentage, putting it firmly in the mix as a legitimate show contender at 2/1 on the morning line — interestingly, the public likes Cultural more than our model does, which is worth noting. The 53 average speed figure is competitive in this five-furlong spot, and trainer Sergio Morfin keeps horses fit at this level.

Queen Kimbe is right there at 84.5 on our ratings with a 54 average speed and trainer Craig Dollase sending her out — Dollase has a strong reputation for placing horses correctly. At 7/2 on the morning line, Queen Kimbe is essentially a co-favorite in our model and makes perfect sense as the place leg in exactas beneath Springline.

Sugar Lovin checks in at 57.5 on ratings with an average speed of 55 — actually the highest speed number in this field — and trainer Michael W. McCarthy is a proven winner in Southern California. The 5/2 morning line reflects a horse the market respects, and in a race where the top two are very close, Sugar Lovin could easily swoop in for third.

Smokem Hot Girl rates second in the field at 79.67, a significant jump above the rest of the supporting cast, and Pedro Flores takes the mount for trainer Felix L. Gonzalez. The 5/1 morning line is interesting — our model has this one rated much closer to Dragon Kat than the odds suggest, which makes the place spot in exactas a potential overlay worth attacking.

Dame It Dani posts a 71.64 TrackWiz rating and draws the services of Tiago Josue Pereira — a solid pick-up — for trainer Alfredo P. Marquez at 3/1 on the morning line. The 53 average speed figure is consistent with what you'd expect from a competitive maiden claimer, and at that price, Dame It Dani is a natural show anchor for trifecta plays.

Courtsdream is a fascinating overlay at 6/1 on the morning line despite rating second in the field at 70.91 for trainer Sheldon W. Paldanius. Edgar Payeras climbs aboard, and the combination of a strong TrackWiz number with a price that suggests the public is underestimating this filly makes the place wager a compelling value angle — especially in exacta combinations beneath She's Back.

Just Mendelssohn rates at 57.5 with an average speed of 55 — the highest raw speed number in this field — and trainer Brendan W. Galvin sends this one out at 5/2, meaning the public is not ignoring this horse at all. Armando Aguilar rides, and while the TrackWiz rating trails the top two, the speed figure edge makes Just Mendelssohn worth including on the show end of trifectas.

Start the Ride is right behind at 83.8 on our ratings with a 33% career win rate — the highest in the field — and goes off at even money on the morning line, suggesting the public sees this as the race to beat. Trainer Dan Blacker keeps this one sharp, and Armando Ayuso is a capable pilot. The gap between our rating and Fionello's is small enough that the place position makes perfect sense if you're looking to structure your wager.

Sabino Canyon is the 8/5 morning line favorite under the Bob Baffert barn with Ricardo Gonzalez riding, so clearly the market respects the connections even if our model has the rating at 59 — notably lower than the top two. A 0% career win rate in stakes company is worth noting, but Baffert horses frequently improve sharply with experience, and the show price could be compressed. Treat as a show hedge rather than a primary win investment based on our numbers.