Will ‘Chick Be Quickest at Shorter Distance?

An upset winner of the Sign of Lanty Handicap at 870 yards on Feb. 21, Ib Chick Quick will cut back in distance in tonight’s $26,300 Ivan Ashment Handicap.

A 400-yard race for California-bred fillies and mares, the Ashment drew only four other entrants -- Female Friend, Hi Patriot, Classic Tol and Pennants Chick.

Ib Chick Quick, a 4-year-old daughter of Chicks Beduino, was making her third start of 2004 when she won the Sign of Lanty at nearly 11-1.

In the $13,500 Shamrock Stake at seven furlongs, Favoritt will try for his eighth lifetime win against seven other Arabians.

The picks: 1. Maxian. 2. Easy Cash Kisses. 3. Rodania Arbi. 4. Deal In Spades. 5. Big Powrfull. 6. Vikingsholm Castle. 7. Favoritt. 8. Blastin Holland. 9. Female Friend. 10. Mission To Mars.

Four! Maxian in the first, Bro Gentry and Easy Cash Kisses in the second, Vironica, Rocket Run, Rodania Arbi and Amber Croixnoire in the third and Storm Lord and Deal In Spades in the fourth.

Shots in the dark: Bomb Squad drops into a softer spot for trainer Jorge Farias in the sixth. Clearly A Strawfly had a brutal trip in his debut and now tries lesser competition in the 10th.

Post time: 6:30 p.m.

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