By Jarrod Horak
This handicapping article and video features analysis of the $100,000 King Glorious Stakes at Los Alamitos Race Course using Today’s Racing Digest past performances.
King Glorious field: 1 – Mo Holland Drive (8-1), 2 – Smoovin Saturday (5-1), 3 – Can’t Help Myself (2-1), 4 – Fionello (6-1), 5 – Tommy Norris (12-1), 6 – Pavlovian (7-2), 7 – John Metcalfe (4-1), 8 – Flashy Fritz (20-1).
The King Glorious Stakes is for California-bred 2-year-olds traveling one mile on the main track. It goes as the 10th race at Los Alamitos on Dec. 14 with a scheduled post time of 7:30 PM ET.
King Glorious Analysis
Mo Holland Drive stretches back out and returns to dirt. He was unplaced in both starts since graduating in a turf sprint.
Smoovin Saturday was 9-1 in his flat mile dirt debut at Del Mar and he stalked the pace and defeated John Metcalfe by a length and a quarter. His winning rider Tiago Pereira stays put and Jonathan Thomas is his new conditioner. He figures to save ground stalking the pace.
Can’t Help Myself improved his Today’s Racing Digest Final Time Ratings in all five starts. He exits a rallying show finish in the Golden State Juvenile at seven panels, and he keeps getting faster as distances increase. He could easily take this for the productive Hector Berrios and John Sadler team.
Fionello won his debut at 4 1/2 panels and failed to crack the top three in his last four starts. He needs to show more to compete with this group.
Tommy Norris is a maiden after five starts and he hit the board four times. He improved his numbers in a half-length defeat at six panels on Oct. 4 and the show finisher was a next-out winner.
Pavlovian finished a half-length in front of Can’t Help Myself at Santa Anita on Oct. 4, and he stumbled at the start and lost his rider in the Golden State Juvenile on Oct. 31. Armando Ayuso is his new pilot and he removes blinkers.
John Metcalfe attended the pace and landed the place in his last two flat mile starts. Juan Hernandez sticks with the maiden and he should be forwardly placed.
Flashy Fritz exits a head victory as the favorite in a maiden claiming dirt route at Del Mar. He will probably try to get into a forward position from the outside post but he looks outclassed.
King Glorious Video
