Favorites went 8-for-18 opening weekend at Los Alamitos, and outside lanes were preferred. Four of the eight Thursday races are previewed below. Except for the opener, the card looks chalky.

Race 1 – First-time starter Unbroken Star (1) has worked well for trainer Ron Ellis, who has won with the debut-in-a-route move. Unbroken Star, listed an appealing 4-1, can upset this $40,000 maiden-claiming mile. The program favorite is potential loose-on-the-lead Drink (3), whose trainer David Hofmans has won with 6 of his last 11 favorites.

Race 2 – Young Hendrick (3) should shake loose and be gone as most probable winner on the card. He is 8-5 in this statebred maiden special-weight.

Race 5 – Fly the Sky (6) raced greenly in his debut, finishing third behind a pair of next-out winners including Bashford Manor winner Phantom Boss. Pour On the Cole (4) worked better after his fourth-place debut than he did before. This statebred maiden race for 2-year-olds looks like a two-horse affair.

Race 8 – Bob Baffert trains the favorites in this maiden sprint for fillies and mares. Top choice first-time starter Shocking Fast (2) worked in company twice with Game Winner; second preference Raneem (8) worked in company with graded winner Mucho Gusto according to workout analyst Andy Harrington. This also seems like a two-horse race.

First post, 1 p.m.