LOS ALAMITOS STARTS THURSDAY

Three stakes – including a pair a graded races - highlight the 2018 Summer Thoroughbred Festival at Los Alamitos.

The 12-day season will begin Thursday, June 28 and continue through Sunday, July 15. Racing will be conducted - with one exception - on a Thursday-Sunday basis.  There will be a special holiday program Wednesday, July 4. A dark day will follow (Thursday, July 5) before racing resumes Friday, July 6. Post time will be 1 p.m.

The final two Saturdays of the meet will feature the Grade II, $200,000-guaranteed Great Lady M. Stakes and the Grade III, $150,000-guaranteed Los Alamitos Derby.

The Great Lady M., which is for fillies and mares – 3-year-olds & up – at 6 ½ furlongs, will be offered Saturday, July 7 and is expected to attract defending champion Skye Diamonds.

Won by eventual 3-year-old champion West Coast in 2017, the Los Alamitos Derby, which is for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles, will be run Saturday, July 14.

The other stakes race that will be offered during the meet is the $100,000 Bertrando for older California breds at one mile. The fifth renewal will be run Wednesday, July 4. The field is likely to include Soi Phet, a 10-year-old who has won four stakes at Los Alamitos, including the inaugural Bertrando in 2014.