He Is a Winner Among Winners

The five geldings entered in tonight’s $17,500 MCI California Challenge have won 52 of 182 races and banked more than $750,000.

And most of that winning has been done by Sign Of Lanty, the longtime 870-yard king.

Owned by Jackie and Rod MacPherson and trained by John Cooper, the California-bred son of The Signature has won 26 of 60 and has a bankroll of nearly $441,000.

Looking for his fourth victory in eight starts and his third in a row in the California Challenge, Sign Of Lanty and jockey Alex Bautista will break from the inside against Sterling Sport, who has won five times; Heza Sand Trap, a 10-time winner; Diamond Cut Diamond, who has won four races, and seven-time winner Chicks Charger Easy.

The picks: 1. A Cover Story. 2. Vels Silent Charger. 3. Our Prince John. 4. Murrieta Red. 5. Sheza Mighty Bobby. 6. Yes I’m No Fool. 7. Willie Awesome. 8. Marmeta. 9. Sign Of Lanty. 10. Go Mr Revange.

Four! Use Pennants Headlight, A Cover Story and Oh To Win in the first, Vels Silent Charger and Greek Gus in the second, Our Prince John and Top Elimator in the third and Murrieta Red and Ripped Fuel in the fourth.

Shot in the dark: Kalki chased the runaway winner in his last outing and gamely saved the place at 72-1 and could be dangerous in the sixth if able to run two alike.

Post time: 7:15 p.m.

On the Net: For entries and results from Los Alamitos, visit:

www.latimes.com/horseracing/.