Three on the Comeback Trail Meet in Sprint

Three fillies and mares who have yet to start in 2004 are among five scheduled to run in tonight’s seventh race, a $13,750 allowance.

Shake Em Rita Ballou, Grateful Heart and Worthy Contender are on the comeback trail. They will be opposed by Daytona Apollo Mrl and Kelia Vista in the 350-yard race.

Grateful Heart, who hasn’t run since Oct. 30, and Worthy Contender, who hasn’t been seen since she finished second at Lone Star Park on Oct. 24, are trained by Paul Jones. Shakem Em Rita Ballou, idle since she finished ninth Nov. 14 at Lone Star, will make her first start for trainer Jaime Gomez.

A Brazilian-bred trained by Donna McArthur, Daytona Apollo Mrl is fresh off a solid second at 12-1 on May 30. She was beaten by a head by McKaizlees Kiss.

The picks: 1. The Nest. 2. Some Gave All. 3. Two Sick To Fly. 4. A Streakin Leader. 5. Mariposa Creek. 6. Cee Jj Run. 7. Daytona Apollo Mrl. 8. La Tonita.

Four! Mariposa Creek, Under The Radar and Tanqueray Cocktail in the fifth, Cee Jj Run in the sixth, Daytona Apollo Mrl, Grateful Heart and Worthy Contender in the seventh and La Tonita, Shes A Dreamaway, Mz Zephyr and A Royal Dame in the eighth.

Shots in the dark: Secret Initiative gets jockey Ramon Sanchez for his debut in the first. Pursuemejazz figures to improve in the second now that he has had a race for trainer Daryn Charlton.

Post time: 7:15 p.m.

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