Odds Figure to Shrink on Sterling Sport

Dominant in the Bull Raustus Handicap a little over a month ago, Sterling Sport will try for another victory tonight in the $37,100 Pat Hyland Memorial Handicap.

A 5-year-old gelding owned by Muller Racing and trained by Dennis Ekins, Sterling Sport went right to the front and extended his advantage in the Bull Raustus. By the end of the 870 yards, the 11-1 longshot had 4 3/4 lengths on runner-up Butter Me Up CST.

The victory, his seventh in 35 starts, came a month after his 19-1 surprise in the California Distance Challenge. The odds will be considerably smaller on Sterling Sport tonight as he breaks from the rail under regular jockey Gary Boag.

The rest of the field includes Butter Me Up CST, Rock N Strawfly, who has won four of his last five for trainer W.G. Baber, Azure Classic Dash, A Cover Story and Reeking Havoc.

The picks: 1. Sweetkins. 2. Tiki Arbi. 3. Topflyte. 4. Would She. 5. Zee Wayne. 6. Fashion Maven. 7. Rio Cheng. 8. Marmeta. 9. Sterling Sport. 10. Ckh Sweetie Pie.

Four! Use Mighty Advance Man and Rio Cheng in the seventh, Marmeta, Granny Janny, Yak Ity Yak Go and Easy Winning Deal in the eighth, single Sterling Sport in the ninth and Express Watch, Ckh Sweetie Pie, Eg Special and Amover in the 10th.

Shots in the dark: Dash Chantel makes against a soft field of maidens in the first. Mi Gamboling Bug could rebound in the fifth after a poor start last month.

Post Time: 7:15 p.m.

On the Net: For entries and results from Los Alamitos, visit: www.latimes.com/horseracing/