First Regards Highly Regarded in Bellflower

First Regards, the 3-year-old filly champion of 2002, is the one to beat in tonight’s $15,000 Bellflower Handicap.

A 4-year-old First Place Dash mare owned by Ramich Farms and trained by Paul Jones, First Regards will break from the rail in the 350-yard race and be ridden by Juan Vasquez.

Third under the wire in the Charger Bar Handicap on Jan. 25 but moved up to second behind Dinastia Toll after a disqualification, the Texas-bred has earned almost $241,000 while winning seven of 17.

Jones will also send out Annual Edition, who will break from the outside as she seeks her first win since 2001. In her most recent appearance, she was second to Cha Ching Chic in the Marina Del Rey Handicap on Jan. 24.The picks: 1. Bw Code Red. 2. Runnin With The Cash. 3. Mean Gene. 4. Toll Bar. 5. Dancing Kack. 6. Karat Snapper. 7. Brian Dasher. 8. First Regards. 9. Brushed Nickel.

Four! Use Beduinos Go Lady, My First Beduino and Bw Code Red in the first, Runnin With The Cash and Loves That Gold in the second, single Mean Gene in the third and take Secret Samuri, Toll Bar and Royal China Boy in the fourth.

Shots in the dark: Classic Cleat had a rough trip in his first race of 2003 and surfaces in the sixth. Sammies White Chicks shortens to her preferred distance in the eighth.

Post time: 7:15 p.m.

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