Expert Pick of the Week: Los Alamitos Futurity

Dec 18, 2020 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

A compact field of six 2-year-olds will travel 1 1/16 miles in Saturday’s $200,000 Los Alamitos Futurity (G2), a 2021 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series event, with the top-four finishers earning points on a 10-4-2-1 basis.

Trained by John Shirreffs, Bob Hope (G3) romper Red Flag broke his maiden on the turf second time out and showed vast improvement in his stakes debut last time out, pulling away late en route to a 7 1/4-length tally. The chestnut son of Tamarkuz shows a trio of solid drills in the interim, and he is the Expert Pick of the Week. 

Red Flag will be making his initial route attempt in the Los Alamitos Futurity, and I think that he might actually move forward off of his best run to date. The $220,000 yearling purchase is both bred for the trip given the impression of a colt who wants to run longer. Victor Espinoza retains the mount atop the one to beat, who will never be far back from the rail in the early stages.

Positivity looms as a major threat to the top selection in my opinion. The Paynter colt was a winner in his first pair of outings, topped by a score in the Graduation S. California-bred bay was then moved to the barn of Paddy Gallagher, and he delivered a big performance when a fine second in the Golden State Juvenile S., finishing more than six lengths clear of his nearest foe.

The January foal has posted a trio of morning drills in the interim, and he will be forwardly placed from the outset with Drayden Van Dyke back in the silks.

Expert Pick

An exacta with #1 Red Flag on top of #5 Positivity is the Best Bet of the Week.