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A return to Los Alamitos proved the winning move for Disco Ball in Friday’s $56,226 feature.
Second twice – once due to a questionable disqualification Feb. 5 – and third in his first three outings of 2022, the 5-year-old Orb horse led throughout to win by 1 1/1 lengths under jockey Drayden Van Dyke.
Pressed early to his inside by the comebacking Hockey Dad, Disco Ball, who is out of the Dixieland Band mare Dancing Band, disposed of that one before a half-mile had been run and wasn’t seriously menaced the rest of the way.
Owned by Samantha Siegel’s Jay Em Ess Stable and trained by Brian Koriner, Disco Ball is now 2-for-4 at Los Alamitos and was runner-up in his two defeats. He completed the six furlongs in 1:09.30.
Now 2-for-11 in his career, Disco Ball returned $4.20, $2.80 and $2.80 as the 11-10 choice. The $31,800 payday pushed his bankroll to $135,600.
Truth Seeker, an 8-1 shot cutting back in distance after finishing fourth in a local miler June 26, rallied to complete the exacta. He paid $5.80 and $4 while finishing 1 ¼ lengths in front of Hockey Dad. The 8-1 fourth choice in his first race since he was third in the Grade II Del Mar Derby last Sept. 4, Hockey Dad’s show price was $4.80.
Leading jockey Ramon Vazquez swept the late double Friday, taking the seventh with Talkative Gal and the eighth with Crash Corrigan. With two days left in the Los Angeles County Fair meet, Vazquez has 10 wins, four more than closest pursuer Tyler Baze.
Racing resumes Saturday at Los Alamitos. Post time is 2 p.m.
The main event is the $125,000 Los Alamitos Derby for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles. Headed by the Bob Baffer-trained duo of Doppelganger and High Connection and 2021 Los Alamitos Futurity winner Slow Down Andy, the Derby will be the last of nine races.
Pick Six carryover ($19,786) awaits Saturday
For the second time in the first seven days of the Los Angeles County Fair meet, there will be a Pick Six carryover when racing resumes Saturday.
The $19,786 carryover was created primarily of consecutive upsets by Mr. Freebie ($13) in the fourth and Jin Tong, an 18-1 shot who rallied to defeat his heavily-favored stablemate Major Nyquist and three other 2-year-olds in the fifth.
The Pick Six begins in Saturday’s fourth race. Post time is 2 p.m. and scheduled post time for the fourth is 3:28 p.m.
