WASHINGTON — 

As he heads into a fraught Senate impeachment trial, President Trump boosted his defense team Friday by adding a bevy of high-wattage outside lawyers who carry considerable political baggage but are practiced in the arts of legal theatrics and comfortable in the glare of TV lights.

Chief among them were Alan Dershowitz, who has defended celebrity clients including Mike Tyson and O.J. Simpson, and Kenneth Starr, whose four-year independent counsel investigation led to the House impeachment of President Clinton in 1998.

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Both veteran lawyers are brand-name fixtures on Fox News, where they have fiercely defended Trump in his impeachment struggle, and can be expected to deliver a spirited defense on the Senate floor once the trial gets past a rules debate next week.

But both attorneys have seen their careers tarred in recent years for helping billionaire Jeffrey Epstein win a lenient plea deal in Florida in 2008 after he was accused of raping numerous underage high school students. Epstein committed suicide last year while in custody after federal prosecutors in New York reopened the case.

One woman later alleged that Dershowitz, now 81, had sexually assaulted her when she was being sex-trafficked by Epstein, a charge Dershowitz has vehemently denied. The two have sued each other for defamation.

Starr, a former dean of the Pepperdine University School of Law, was forced to resign as president of Baylor University in Texas in 2016 following an investigation that found he had mishandled sexual assault cases at the school.

Robert Ray, who succeeded Starr as independent counsel and wrote the final Clinton report, will also join the team. So will Pam Bondi, a former Florida attorney general and frequent Fox News guest, and Jane Raskin, a defense attorney who represented Trump during the special counsel investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

White House Counsel Pat Cipollone and Trump’s personal lawyer Jay Sekulow will lead the president’s defense team.

Senate Democrats are likely to cite previous pro-impeachment arguments and writings by Starr and Ray, including their efforts to get the Senate to call witnesses during Clinton’s trial in 1999, as they push for the Republican-led Senate to agree to hear new evidence and witnesses in Trump’s case.

Starr “pushed the weakest impeachment case, certainly in my lifetime, and now he’s up here to [argue against] the strongest impeachment case in my lifetime,” said Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.), who was in the Senate for Clinton’s trial and is the most senior member of the Judiciary Committee. “That’s their choice. But it’s a weird choice.”

On Friday, a video clip surfaced of Trump, back in 1999, calling Starr a “lunatic” and “disaster” as Trump stuck up for Clinton during an interview on NBC News.

“This is definitely an ‘are you [expletive] kidding me?’ kinda day,” tweeted Monica Lewinsky, the former White House intern whose sexual affair with Clinton was central to the scandal.

In Trump’s view, any credibility, character questions or embarrassing inconsistencies are outweighed by the lawyers’ proven loyalty, combativeness and ability to perform on television — a skill Trump has long valued and one likely to be crucial during a trial that, above all, will be a political battle to shape public opinion.

Fox News announced Friday that Starr would step away from his role as a commentator because of his new position with Trump.

Although the White House said Dershowitz was on the defense team, he sought to downplay his role, saying he would present a constitutional argument against convicting the president of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, the two articles of impeachment.

“I was asked to present my constitutional argument against impeachment,” he said in an interview on Sirius XM. “I will be there for one hour, basically, presenting my argument. But I’m not a full-fledged member of the defense team.”

Kendall Coffey, a former U.S. attorney in south Florida who has written a book, “Spinning the Law,” about trying cases that draw intense public interest, said Trump’s TV-savvy lawyers may help him more than the dry arguments of his in-house counsel.

“Certainly, given the expected media intensity, some of the individuals such as Pam Bondi and Ken Starr and certainly Alan Dershowitz are very effective advocates in the court of public opinion, and that’s going to be a big part as history’s being written,” said Coffey, who considers himself a close friend of Dershowitz.

According to a person familiar with the legal team’s strategy, the strategic objective will be to portray the Democrats’ impeachment effort as “totally political,” and to avoid trying to litigate the facts presented by House managers selected by Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco).

The House managers are expected to argue, based on hearings since September, that Trump improperly pressured a foreign power to interfere in a U.S. election by withholding $391 million in congressionally approved military aid to Ukraine for its conflict with Russia while demanding Ukrainian officials dig up dirt on Joe Biden, who is running for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Prosecutors and defense lawyers are familiar with the Trump team’s tactic.

“If the evidence is weak, the defense will attack the evidence and try to win on the merits,” said Glenn Kirschner, a former federal prosecutor in Washington. “If the evidence is strong, the defense will attack the people bringing the case.”

Trump’s approach to impeachment has echoed his response to the 22-month investigation by former special counsel Robert S. Mueller III into Russian meddling in the 2016 election. Trump relentlessly denounced the inquiry as a “witch hunt” and claimed that the final 448-page report exonerated him, though it did not.

Indeed, Trump and his defenders portray the impeachment, which focuses on events that transpired months after Mueller finished his report, as a continuation of a Democratic effort to undermine his presidency and fight for his ouster before he can win reelection.

“Our opponents say, ‘We’re not going to win. Let’s impeach him,’” Trump bellowed during a rally in Milwaukee on Tuesday night.

This week, Trump and allies tried to brush off bombshell allegations by Lev Parnas, a Soviet-born U.S. citizen and associate of the president’s personal attorney Rudolph W. Giuliani, that Trump’s pursuit of investigations by Ukraine and his withholding of military aid was “all about the Bidens” and that “everyone knew” about the quid pro quo.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump said nine times in two minutes that he “didn’t know” Parnas, despite multiple now-public photos showing them together.

Another close ally of the president, Fox News host Sean Hannity, previewed an argument Thursday night that might serve as a last-ditch defense for wavering senators.

“Sometimes the best defense is the ‘so what’ defense,” Hannity said. “If everything the Democrats said is true, it’s still not impeachable. If everything Lev Parnas said is true, it’s still not impeachable.”

The Senate trial will begin in earnest Tuesday with an expected contentious debate over the rules to govern the proceedings.

Democrats want the Senate to agree in advance to subpoena documents and witnesses that the House could not access, probably including former national security advisor John Bolton and acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney. Republicans say the Senate should first hear arguments from both sides and then determine whether more witness testimony is needed.

The Senate will vote on the GOP plan Tuesday, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said he has the votes for it to pass. Democrats plan to force votes on hearing from various witnesses, but none are expected to win approval.

House Democrats are then expected to present their case, followed by the president’s defense team, a process that could take two weeks. Democrats hope to get another chance to call witnesses at that point.

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) indicated she is “likely” to join Democrats to demand witnesses, but she won’t support them next week. Assuming all 47 Democrats stick together, and absent a tie-breaking vote by the chief justice, they would need to flip four Republicans to win that demand.

Ultimately, a two-thirds majority of the 100 senators would be required to convict the president and force his removal, meaning 20 Republicans would have to switch sides. So far, none has signaled willingness to do so.

Trump’s impeachment overshadowed a week that included two major political wins for the White House: the Senate’s overwhelming passage Thursday of a revamped free trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, and an elaborate ceremony Wednesday to sign a “phase one” trade agreement between the U.S. and China.

During that 74-minute event, Trump struggled to focus as he delivered a long, meandering monologue, lavishing praise on donors and several Republican senators who are about to sit in judgment of him.

On Friday, impeachment remained on Trump’s mind as he welcomed Louisiana State’s national championship football team to the White House and concluded by sprinkling self-pity and triumphalism into an invitation to show the players the Oval Office.

“We’ll take pictures behind the Resolute Desk. It’s been there a long time. A lot of presidents — some good, some not so good,” Trump riffed. “But you got a good one now, even though they’re trying to impeach the son of a bitch. Can you believe that? Can you believe that?”

Times staff writers Jennifer Haberkorn and Noah Bierman contributed to this report.

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WASHINGTON — 

Billionaire Michael R. Bloomberg won’t have to publicly disclose his finances until late March, well after voters in more than a dozen states — including California — take to the polls on Super Tuesday.

Presidential candidates are required to reveal their investments, businesses and streams of income. Bloomberg, a former New York City mayor, is the only Democrat seeking the White House who has yet to file paperwork to publicly disclose his.

And under an extension granted to him Friday by the Federal Election Commission — the second such one Bloomberg has received — he can postpone their release until March 20.

The timing is significant because Bloomberg has skipped campaigning in early voting states such as Iowa and New Hampshire and is instead staking his bid on a big showing in contests that come later, such as Super Tuesday on March 3, when California and more than a dozen other states will vote. By getting approval to delay the release of his finances until after those pivotal contests, he is denying voters information about how much he is worth — and how he invests his money.

“Mr. Bloomberg … has made diligent efforts to prepare his report. Nevertheless, due to the complexity of his holdings and the need to obtain certain information from third parties, Mr. Bloomberg needs additional time to gather and review his financial information and complete and file his report,” his attorney Lawrence H. Norton wrote in a letter to the FEC.

Bloomberg spokeswoman Galia Slayen declined to comment. Bloomberg has pledged to release his tax returns but hasn’t said when he would do so. Releasing tax returns was a decades-long tradition for presidential candidates until Republican Donald Trump declined to do so during the 2016 campaign. President Trump has still not released his returns.

Bloomberg, who has long considered a White House bid, sits atop a sprawling business empire and is worth more than $50 billion, easily making him the wealthiest candidate in the contest and one of the richest people in the world.

He has been laying the groundwork for a campaign for months and has flooded primary states with more than $200 million worth of radio and TV advertising since entering the race in November.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — 

The Democratic National Committee on Friday announced its criteria for the first debate to be held after voting begins in the 2020 presidential campaign, including a new pathway to the stage based on delegate pledges.

As they have before, qualifiers will need to meet polling and grass-roots funding thresholds to participate in the Feb. 7 debate in Manchester, N.H. But new for next month is a pathway centered on delegates: Based on the results of the leadoff Iowa caucuses, any candidate awarded at least one pledged delegate to the Democratic National Convention, as calculated by the Democratic Party, will be able to participate.

Party officials are relying on the same polling and grass-roots thresholds as for the January debate in Des Moines: either receiving 5% in at least four national or early-state surveys approved by the party, or receiving 7% in two polls in early voting states. But for these calculations, only polls from New Hampshire, Nevada or South Carolina will be used, with the party saying it would rely on caucus results instead of polls to reflect a candidate’s standing in Iowa.

Polls must be released from Dec. 13 to Feb. 6, the day before the debate.

In terms of fundraising, candidates must receive donations from at least 225,000 unique donors, with a minimum of 1,000 donors per state in at least 20 states.

Until this round, the eighth of the Democratic campaign, party officials had steadily increased polling and fundraising thresholds, standards that had been scrutinized by candidates and party activists, as DNC Chairman Tom Perez has juggled the tasks of keeping a historically large field from being too unwieldy for voters while keeping his promise that everyone running would have a fair shot to make a case on the national stage.

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The field of six candidates on the stage in Des Moines — former Vice President Joe Biden; Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders; Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren; Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar; former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg; and billionaire Tom Steyer — was the smallest and least diverse of the 2020 cycle, which at times has sprawled onto two stages and back-to-back nights.

All six onstage in Des Moines appear to have met the polling and grass-roots thresholds for next month’s debate. Businessman Andrew Yang, who failed to qualify for Des Moines, has met some but not all of next month’s requirements.

ABC News, ABC’s New Hampshire affiliate WMUR-TV and Apple News are co-hosting the debate at St.Anselm College on Feb. 7, four days after the Iowa caucuses and four days before New Hampshire’s votes are cast. Later debates will follow in Las Vegas on Feb. 19, and in Charleston, S.C., on Feb. 25.

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WASHINGTON — 

A Supreme Court that seems more favorable to religion-based discrimination claims is set to hear a case that could make it easier to use public money to pay for religious schooling in many states.

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The justices will hear arguments Wednesday in a dispute over a Montana scholarship program for private K-12 education that also makes donors eligible for up to $150 in state tax credits. Advocates on both sides say the outcome could be momentous because it could lead to efforts in other states to funnel taxpayer money to religious schools.

Montana is among 37 states that have provisions in their state constitutions that bar religious schools from receiving state aid.

The Legislature created the tax credit in 2015 for contributions made to certain scholarship programs for private education. The state’s highest court had struck down the tax credit as a violation of the constitutional ban. The scholarships can be used at both secular and religious schools, but almost all the recipients attend religious schools.

Kendra Espinoza of Kalispell, Mont., the lead plaintiff in the Supreme Court case, said the state court decision amounts to discrimination against her religious freedom. “They did away with the entire program so that no one could use this money to send their kids to a religious school,” said Espinoza, whose two daughters attend the Stillwater Christian School in Kalispell, near Glacier National Park.

She said she could not afford to keep her daughters enrolled without financial aid from the school, where tuition this year is $7,735 for elementary and middle school and $8,620 for high school. But Espinoza said she has never received money from the scholarship program and only began the application process late last year.

For Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, the Montana program is part of a nationwide, conservative-backed campaign against public schools. “This is a ruse to siphon off money from public education,” Weingarten said. Teacher unions generally oppose school choice programs.

Montana is one of 18 states that offer scholarship tax-credit programs, according to EdChoice, an organization that promotes school-choice programs. Most have more generous tax credits, one of several ways states have created programs to boost private schools or defray their tuition costs. Others include vouchers, individual tax credits or deductions and education savings accounts.

“These programs are about empowering parents, low-income parents, to make the same educational choices that their well-to-do peers make every day, which is to choose private schools for their kids, if public schools aren’t working for them,” said Richard Komer of the Virginia-based Institute for Justice, which backs school choice programs. Komer is representing the Montana parents at the Supreme Court.

When the Montana Supreme Court considered the scholarship program, it found that allowing public money to flow to religious schools, even indirectly, ran afoul of the state constitution. But rather than leave the program in place for secular schools, the court struck it down altogether. The state court ruling has been put on hold pending a U.S. Supreme Court decision.

The state hoped the wholesale invalidation of the program would shield it from Supreme Court review. In urging the Supreme Court to reject the case, Montana said it can’t be compelled to offer a scholarship program for private education. The state told the justices that the Montana court decision did not single out students at religious schools because the state court ruling struck down the entire program.

But at least four justices, the minimum needed to hear a case, were not persuaded by that reasoning. The Trump administration, which is taking steps to give religious organizations easier access to federal programs, has now joined the case on the parents’ side. This past week, President Trump also pledged to protect prayer in public schools as part of his bid to solidify his evangelical base for the 2020 election.

Recent rulings from the Supreme Court, which now includes Trump appointees Neil Gorsuch and Brett M. Kavanaugh, in favor of religion-based discrimination claims suggest the state has an uphill fight. In 2014, the justices excepted family-held for-profit businesses with religious objections from

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The CIF Southern Section announced on Friday playoff divisions for the Spring 2020 seasons. Divisions for baseball are listed below. Playoff divisions for other sports are available at the following links. These include boys’ and girls’ lacrosse, which will be Southern Section championship sports for this first time in 2020.

Softball

Boys’ Volleyball

Track & Field

Boys’ Tennis

Boys’ Lacrosse

Girls’ Lacrosse

Note: Swimming divisions are the same as in 2019.

BASEBALL

CIF-SS 2020 PLAYOFF DIVISIONS

DIVISION 1

Aliso Niguel

Arcadia

Ayala

Beckman

Bishop Amat

Capistrano Valley

Chaminade

Corona

Crescenta Valley

Cypress

Damien

Dana Hills

El Toro

Etiwanda

Foothill

Harvard-Westlake

Huntington Beach

JSerra

King

La Mirada

Mira Costa

Norco

Orange Lutheran

Palm Desert

Redondo

Santa Margarita

Servite

Sherman Oaks Notre Dame

South Hills

St. Bonaventure

Temecula Valley

Temescal Canyon

Valencia

Vista Murrieta

West Ranch

Yucaipa

DIVISION 2

Agoura

Alemany

Bonita

Camarillo

Canyon Springs

Corona del Mar

Dos Pueblos

Edison

El Dorado

El Segundo

Gahr

Garden Grove Pacifica

Gardena Serra

Glendora

Great Oak

Jurupa Hills

La Canada

La Palma Kennedy

La Quinta

Long Beach Poly

Los Alamitos

Maranatha

Marina

Mater Dei

Mission Viejo

Moorpark

Northview

Oak Hills

Oaks Christian

Ocean View

Paloma Valley

Quartz Hill

Rio Mesa

Riverside Poly

San Clemente

San Dimas

San Juan Hills

Santa Fe

Sierra Canyon

Simi Valley

St. John Bosco

Summit

Tesoro

Thousand Oaks

Trabuco Hills

Villa Park

Yorba Linda

DIVISION 3

Anaheim Canyon

Arlington

Calabasas

Capistrano Valley Christian

Carter

Cerritos

Chino Hills

Corona Santiago

Don Lugo

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Esperanza

Fountain Valley

Grand Terrace

Hart

Irvine

La Salle

Laguna Beach

Lakewood

Long Beach Wilson

Los Osos

Loyola

Mary Star

Millikan

Muir

Murrieta Valley

Newbury Park

Newport Harbor

Ontario Christian

Palos Verdes

Pasadena Poly

Redlands

Redlands East Valley

Santa Barbara

Saugus

Sonora

South Torrance

St. Paul

Sunny Hills

Tahquitz

Torrance

Victor Valley

Warren

West Torrance

Windward

DIVISION 4

Alhambra

Alta Loma

Apple Valley

Brea Olinda

California

Cantwell-Sacred Heart

Chaparral

Charter Oak

Corona Centennial

Crespi

Culver City

Downey

Eastvale Roosevelt

El Modena

El Rancho

Estancia

Fullerton

Grace Brethren

Heritage

Kaiser

Katella

La Serna

La Sierra

Loara

Lompoc

Los Altos

Monrovia

Montebello

Moreno Valley

Murrieta Mesa

Nogales

Oxnard

Paraclete

Placentia Valencia

Rancho Cucamonga

Rancho Verde

Riverside North

Royal

Salesian

San Gorgonio

San Marino

Santa Monica

Segerstrom

St. Francis

Temple City

Troy

Tustin

Upland

Valley View

Village Christian

Westlake

Woodbridge

Woodcrest Christian

Xavier Prep

DIVISION 5

Adelanto

Arrowhead Christian

Arroyo

Bellflower

Bishop Diego

Burbank

Burbank Burroughs

Cajon

Canyon Country Canyon

Cathedral

Century

Chino

Citrus Hill

Citrus Valley

Claremont

Costa Mesa

Covina

Crean Lutheran

Diamond Bar

Dunn

Fillmore

Flintridge Prep

Garey

Glenn

Hemet

Highland

Hillcrest

Indio

Irvine University

Laguna Hills

Malibu

Mayfair

Montclair

North Torrance

Northwood

Orange Vista

Oxford Academy

Pasadena

Peninsula

Pomona

Rancho Alamitos

Rialto

Rio Hondo Prep

Rowland

San Jacinto

San Marcos

Santa Paula

Santa Ynez

Savanna

Schurr

Serrano

Shadow Hills

Sierra Vista

Silverado

St. Anthony

St. Margaret’s

Sultana

Ventura

Walnut

West Covina

DIVISION 6

Anaheim

Aquinas

Baldwin Park

Barstow

Beaumont

Beverly Hills

Big Bear

Bishop Montgomery

Bloomington

Brentwood

Buckley

Buena

Buena Park

Calvary Murrieta

Campbell Hall

Carpinteria

Cate

Cerritos Valley Christian

Chaffey

Coachella Valley

Colony

Colton

Crossroads

de Toledo

Diamond Ranch

Downey Calvary Chapel

Eastside

Eisenhower

El Monte

Elsinore

Excelsior

Faith Baptist

Foothill Tech

Garden Grove

Gladstone

Glendale

Golden Valley

Granite Hills

Hacienda Heights Wilson

Heritage Christian

Hesperia

Jurupa Valley

Knight

La Habra

Lakeside

Lawndale

Linfield Christian

Littlerock

Lompoc Cabrillo

Long Beach Cabrillo

Long Beach Jordan

Lynwood

Miller

Norte Vista

Norwalk

Oak Park

Ontario

Orange

Oxnard Pacifica

Palm Springs

Paramount

Pasadena Marshall

Patriot

Ramona

Rancho Christian

Rancho Mirage

Ridgecrest Burroughs

Rim of the World

Riverside Notre Dame

Rolling Hills Prep

Saddleback Valley Christian

Sage Hill

Santa Ana

Santa Ana Calvary Chapel

Santa Clara

South Pasadena

Southlands Christian

St. Bernard

St. Genevieve

St. Monica

Trinity Classical

United Christian

University Prep

Viewpoint

Vista del Lago

Webb

West Valley

Western

Westminster

Westminster La Quinta

Whittier

Whittier Christian

Yucca Valley

DIVISION 7

Academy for Academic Excellence

Academy for Careers & Exploration

Animo Leadership

Antelope Valley

Apple Valley Christian

Arroyo Valley

Artesia

Avalon

Azusa

Banning

Bassett

Bell Gardens

Bermuda Dunes Desert Christian

Bloomington Christian

Bolsa Grande

Bosco Tech

Brethren Christian

California Lutheran

California Military Institute

Calvary Baptist

Cathedral City

Chadwick

Channel Islands

Coast Union

Cobalt

Compton

Compton Centennial

Cornerstone Christian

Crossroads Christian

CSDR

Cuyama Valley

Da Vinci

Desert Chapel

Desert Hot Springs

Desert Mirage

Dominguez

Duarte

Edgewood

Environmental Charter

Fairmont Prep

Firebaugh

Fontana

Gabrielino

Ganesha

Garden Grove Santiago

Godinez

Gorman

Grove

Hamilton

Hawthorne

Hawthorne Math/Science

Hesperia Christian

Hillcrest Christian

Hoover

Hueneme

Indian Springs

Inglewood

Keppel

La Puente

La Sierra Academy

La Verne Lutheran

Lake Arrowhead Christian

Lancaster

Lancaster Baptist

Lancaster Desert Christian

Lennox Academy

Leuzinger

Los Amigos

Lucerne Valley

Magnolia

Maricopa

Mesa Grande

Milken

Moreno Valley Riverside County Education Academy

Morningside

Mountain View

New Roads

Newbury Park Adventist

Noli Indian

Nordhoff

Nuview Bridge

Oakwood

Ojai Valley

Pacific

Palm Valley

Palmdale

Perris

Pioneer

Portola

Providence

Public Safety

Redlands Adventist

Riverside Bethel Christian

Riverside Prep

Rosemead

Rubidoux

Saddleback

Sage Oak

San Bernardino

San Gabriel

San Jacinto Valley Academy

Santa Ana Valley

Santa Clarita Christian

Santa Clarita Valley International

Santa Maria Valley Christian

Santa Monica Pacifica Christian

Santa Rosa Academy

Shalhevet

Sherman Indian

Silver Valley

South El Monte

Southwestern Academy

St. Michael’s Prep

St. Monica Academy

St. Pius X-St. Matthias

Summit View

Summit View West

Tarbut V’Torah

Temecula Prep

Thacher

Twentynine Palms

Valley Torah

Vasquez

Verbum Dei

Victor Valley Christian

Villanova Prep

Vistamar

Western Christian

Whitney

Workman

Yeshiva

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Derrick Taylor has coached so many top basketball players at Woodland Hills Taft that he could form two elite five-man teams of mostly guards.

On one side could be Jordan Farmar, Spencer Dinwiddie, Larry Drew, DeAndre Daniels and Kihei Clark. The other side could be old-timers Justin Hawkins, Michael Williams, Kris Yanku and Oscar Bellfield, leaving a spot open for Taft’s next prolific player, sophomore Ramel Lloyd.

Averaging 21.1 points, the 6-foot-6 Lloyd has reached such a comfort zone that he has helped propel Taft (14-5, 4-0) into a potential high seeding for the City Section Open Division playoffs if the Toreadors go unbeaten in the West Valley League. Taft has won four consecutive games.

“He’s as talented as anyone we’ve had,” Taylor said. “I’ve never had a sophomore score like this. He has an elite level offensive skill set.”

Lloyd scored 30 points and Demetrius Calip added 21 to help the Toreadors defeat neighborhood rival El Camino Real 69-50 on Friday night. It was a four-point game going into the fourth quarter until Lloyd and Calip helped Taft take control.

“We’re coming together as a team,” Lloyd said. “Derrick Taylor puts me in spots to succeed.”

Taft should get even stronger next week when standout senior Khalil Haywood is scheduled to return after an ankle injury.

El Camino Real made nine three-pointers but couldn’t overcome repeated fouls that resulted in Taft scoring 23 points on free throws. Kyle Braun had 16 points for the Conquistadores.

It’s get away weekend in high school basketball, with teams boarding flights at LAX for the East Coast. Chatsworth Sierra Canyon, Temecula Rancho Christian and Santa Ana Mater Dei will be playing in the Hoop Hall Classic in Springfield, Mass. Rolling Hills Prep is in Canada. Taft was scheduled to take an 11:15 p.m. flight on Friday to play a game on Saturday in New Jersey, then return to play a game on Monday.

“Psycho,” Taylor said of his scheduling.

Taylor’s son, Langston, is a starting guard for the Toreadors, and former Taft coach Jason Hart’s son, Jason Jr., also starts. Hart is now an assistant coach at USC, which has offered Lloyd a scholarship.

Lake Balboa Birmingham, which started the week trying to end a six-game losing streak, received 29 points from Cory Cofield in a 68-55 win over Granada Hills.

In the Trinity League, coach Matt Dunn of Bellflower St. John Bosco pulled off a feat no other coach in California has accomplished. His team defeated Santa Ana Mater Dei and coach Gary McKnight for the third consecutive season. The Braves (16-5, 3-1) won 70-62 on Friday. Kentucky commit Devin Askew tried to rally Mater Dei (16-4, 3-1) from a 13-point deficit. He scored 18 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter.

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Isaiah Holm led the Braves with 14 points. Wynton Brown and Josh Camper had 13 points apiece.

There’s a three-way tie for first place in league among St. John Bosco, Mater Dei and San Juan Capistrano JSerra, which defeated Orange Lutheran 66-49.

Etiwanda (18-2, 4-0) remains one of the top teams in Southern California after winning its Baseline League showdown against La Verne Damien 82-60. The Eagles relied on balanced scoring, with Camren Pierce scoring 16 points and Brantly Stevenson adding 15 points. Malik Thomas scored 26 points for Damien.

Brandon Whitney had 42 points to lead Mission Hills Bishop Alemany to a 83-79 overtime victory against Encino Crespi in a Mission League game.

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Hello, my name is John Cherwa, and welcome back to our horse racing newsletter as we have the best day of racing for Cal-breds at Santa Anita.

Let’s get right to it with our weekly contribution from Ron Flatter of the Vegas Stats and Information Network. He’s always got a lot on his mind and no shortage of opinions. So, Ron, what are you thinking about today?

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“Five jumps. Just five jumps. That is roughly the difference between the 2019 and 2020 Lecomte Stakes, the next points prep for the Kentucky Derby.

“The Fair Grounds announced nearly four months ago that the Lecomte, the Risen Star and the Louisiana Derby would be lengthened this year. The Lecomte, which will be run Saturday, has gone from one mile and 70 yards to 1 1/16 miles.

“The race is not so much 40 yards longer at the end than it is at the beginning. ‘We wanted to provide the horses a longer run into the first turn,’ Fair Grounds racing secretary Scott Jones said.

“One might say that Jones and his team are trying to tame a growing New Orleans monster. Since 2016 there have been 57 horses drawn into the Lecomte for an average field size of more than 14. To say the least, it has become a popular race.

“Since Fair Grounds draws are always abnormally early – a week out for Saturday cards – trainer scratches well before post time are commonplace. But the Lecomte takes it to a new level. There have been 11 of them from the last four runnings of the race; seven were from posts in the outside halves of the draws.

“Throw in the fact that 17 Fair Grounds races have been run at 8½ furlongs since the end of November, and none has been won by a horse drawn beyond stall 7.

“’The outside posts are still compromised at the 1 1/16-mile distance just as they are at the mile and the mile-70,’ said Michael Beychok, the 2012 National Horseplayers Championship winner who is a Fair Grounds regular. ‘That’s a small sample, but it’s big enough for me to take a second and third look at horses that are on the outside and really have to make a good case for them.’

“Lynn’s Map, a pace-chasing colt that already beat two others in the Lecomte field, got stuck in post 14. Despite being 6-1 on the morning line, he was expected to be scratched by trainer Mark Casse in favor of a run next Friday in the Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Park. Casse’s assistant David Carroll admitted that ‘post 14 is a bit of a concern.’

“This is not to suggest that success may not be found from out wide. Guest Suite won the Lecomte from post 8 in 2017 and Instilled Regard from post 10 in 2018.

“More of this post-position conversation will continue next Saturday at the Pegasus World Cup Invitational, a race that is 1⅛ miles. At Gulfstream Park that means a short, 150-yard run from the starting gate to the clubhouse turn, auguring the repeated recitation of a cold, hard stat. This winter only 2 of 21 horses drawn into posts 10, 11 and 12 have won two-turn races on Gulfstream’s main track.

“Of course, Gun Runner fouled up that whole conversation two years ago by winning the Pegasus from post 10.

“The moral to this story: Sometimes the quality of the horse still matters.”

Ron Flatter is a host and reporter who covers horse racing for the Vegas Stats & Information Network, which is available at SiriusXM 201 and to subscribers at VSiN.com. His Ron Flatter Racing Pod this week features Eclipse Award-winning horseplayer Michael Beychok and trainer Brad Cox previewing Saturday’s Lecomte and Silverbulletday stakes at the Fair Grounds. The RFRP is also available if you just click here. It’s sponsored by Xpressbet.

New newsletter format

A few of you emailed with no love for the new newsletter format. It seems that there was a problem with those of you who have an AOL account. We’re working to fix it, maybe as soon as this newsletter, maybe not. A couple were dismayed that there were ads in the newsletter.

Well, folks, if you would rather this be a paid subscription-based newsletter, then perhaps the ads could go away. Didn’t think so. Just so you know, we have to pay a service to send out 10,000 newsletters, and, we also have to pay for entries and results. No, we don’t get them for free.

Santa Anita review

On what was a pretty miserable card the real story wasn’t the feature a maiden special weight won by Odysseus ($21.20). The story was in the winner’s circle after that race when Santa Anita honored John Shear, its 99-year-old paddock captain. It was his birthday. I could tell you his story but instead let’s let our top columnist Bill Plaschke tell it in a story he wrote in 2011. Just click here. It was after Shear saved a 6-year-old girl from being trampled by a horse.

Santa Anita preview

If you are a fan of Cal-breds, Saturday’s racing is Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa all rolled into a nine-race program starting at 12:30 p.m. (Bet there has never been a sentence in the history of the world that contained those words.) All nine races are for Cal-breds, which also includes Cal-sired horses. There are five stakes races, three allowance/optional claimers and then the lone person at the kiddie table, a maiden claimer.

Let’s get right to them.

$150,000 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint: This one is over the new normal distance of 5 ½ furlongs instead of 6 ½. Everything else you need to know about the race is in the name of it. The favorite, 6-5, is Just Grazed Me for trainer Phil D’Amato and jockey Giovanni Franco. She is six-for-10 lifetime and has won three in a row including the Grade 3 Ken Maddy Stakes. The second favorite is Stealthediamonds, at 5-2, for Mike Puype and Agapito Delgadillo. She is five-for-16 lifetime and is coming off a win in an allowance. She has never won at Santa Anita. Post is around 1:30 p.m.

$150,000 California Cup Sprint: It’s a six-furlong race with some pretty good sprinters. Fashionably Fast is the 9-5 favorite for Dean Peterson and Tiago Pereira. He’s won five-of-14 lifetime and four in a row including the Cary Grant Stakes at Del Mar. He also won the Harris Farms Stakes at Fresno, named after the horse’s owner. Baja Sur is the 5-2 second choice for Blaine Wright and Juan Hernandez. Obviously, a Northern California shipper. He was second to Fashionably First in the Fresno race and won at Golden Gate last out. Post is around 2:35 p.m.

$200,000 Unusual Heat Turf Classic: This race is 1 1/8 miles and clearly on the turf. The Hunted is the 9-5 favorite for Richard Baltas and Pereira. He is coming off an allowance win and is four-of-15 lifetime. He has mostly been running on the allowance level. Ward ‘n Jerry is the second choice at 5-2 for Puype and Umberto Rispoli. The 7-year-old gelding is coming off a third in the Hollywood Turf Cup and is five-of-18 lifetime. He had an allowance win the race before the Hollywood Turf Cup. Post is around 3:05 p.m.

$200,000 California Cup Derby: Let’s go back a few years where this race was the springboard for this colt named California Chrome. The rest, as they say, is history. The favorite in this 1 1/16-mie race for 3-year-olds is Bettor Trip Nick at 5-2. He’s a shipper from Golden Gate, who has won four of his five races. He runs for William Delia and Catalino Martinez. His last two wins were in minor stakes. His first race was a maiden claimer, so he has clearly exceeded expectations. Club Aspen, at 3-1, is the second favorite for Craig Lewis and Jorge Velez. He is two-of-seven lifetime and is coming off a second in the King Glorious Stakes at Los Alamitos. Post is around 4:05 p.m.

$200,000 California Cup Oaks: This is the filly version of the Cal Cup Derby except at a mile. Warren’s Showtime is the 3-1 favorite for Lewis and Velez. She has won two of five and won the Surfer Girl at Santa Anita. Been Studying Her is the 4-1 second choice for Dan Ward and Mike Smith. She is three for five and won the Golden State Juvenile Fillies, a race in which Warren’s Showtime finished third. Post is around 4:05 p.m.

Here are the field sizes, in order: 7, 7, 7, 10, 7, 8, 9, 12, 12.

Ciaran Thornton’s SA picks of the day

RACE ONE: No. 5 Coast of Roan (10-1)

Coast Of Roan was a big winner for us in October but last out at Del Mar disappointed. Rafael Bejarano takes the mount Saturday and we get a sharp workout for a horse racing protected for trainer Doug O’Neill. 10-1 is a great price. My niece has the same name and is celebrating her birthday Saturday so even more of a reason to use as my value play of the day.

Friday’s result: Brickyard Ride took a lot of early money and by post went off at 3-1. The horse grabbed the early lead by three lengths but then took a bad step into the turn and almost lost the jockey. Brickyard then regained the lead and at the top of the stretch broke through the rail and lost the jockey. What a bizarre chain of events. Both the horse and jockey were OK.

Ciaran Thornton is the handicapper for Californiapick4.com, which offers daily full card picks, longshots of the day, best bets of the day.

Big races preview

A look at graded stakes or races worth $100,000 or more on Saturday. All times PST.

10:22 Laurel (3): $100,000 What a Summer Stakes, fillies and mares 4 and up, 6 /2 furlongs. Favorite: Needs Supervision (8-5)

10:29 Fair Grounds (2): $100,000 Duncan F. Kenner Stakes, 4 and up, 6 furlongs. Favorite: Bobby’s Wicked One (7-5)

10:45 Tampa Bay (3): $125,000 Pasco Stakes, 3-year-olds, 7 furlongs. Favorite: Liam’s Lucky Charm (2-1)

11:51 Laurel (6): $100,000 Fire Plug Stakes, 6 ½ furlongs. Favorite: Tiz He the One (7-2)

12:03 Gulfstream (8): $150,000 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf, Fla-bred fillies and mares 4 and up, 1 1/16 miles on turf. Favorite: Starship Jubilee (3-5)

12:25 Aqueduct (7): $100,000 Franklin Square Stakes, NY-bred fillies 3-years-old, 6 ½ furlongs. Favorite: Fierce Lady (7-5)

12:34 Gulfstream (9): $100,000 Sunshine Millions Sprint, Fla-breds 4 and up, 6 furlongs. Favorite: Extravagant Kid (2-1)

1:06 Gulfstream (10): $150,000 Sunshine Millions Turf, Fla-breds 4 and up, 1 1/16 miles on turf. Favorite: March to the Arch (7-2)

1:32 Santa Anita (3): $150,000 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf, Cal-bred fillies and mares 4 and up, 5 ½ furlongs on turf. Favorite: Just Grazed Me (6-5)

1:38 Gulfstream (11): $200,000 Sunshine Millions Classic, Fla-breds 4 and up, 1 1/8 miles. Favorite: Red Crescent (5-2)

1:50 Tampa Bay (9): $125,000 Gasparilla Stakes, fillies 3-years-old, 7 furlongs. Favorite: Swiss Skydiver (7-2)

1:52 Fair Grounds (9): $100,000 Marie G. Krantz Memorial Stakes, fillies and mares 4 and up, 1 1/16 miles on turf. Favorite: Quebec (7-2)

2:21 Fair Grounds (10): $100,000 Louisiana Stakes, 4 and up, 1 1/16 miles. Favorite: Silver Dust (3-1)

2:24 Sunland (8): $100,000 La Senora Stakes, NM-bred fillies 3-year-olds, 6 furlongs. Favorite: Count Them Again (6-5)

2:36 Santa Anita (5): $150,000 California Cup Sprint, Cal-breds 4 and up, 6 furlongs. Favorite: Fashionably Fast (9-5)

2:52 Fair Grounds (11): $125,000 Colonel E.R. Bradley Stakes, 4 and up, 1 1/16 miles on turf. Favorite: Mr. Misunderstood (7-2)

3:07 Santa Anita (6): $200,000 Unusual Heat Turf Classic, Cal-breds 4 and up, 1 1/8 miles on turf. Favorite: The Hunted (9-5)

3:23 Fair Grounds (12): $150,000 Silverbulletday Stakes, fillies 3-years-old, 1 mile and 70 yards. Favorite: Finite (6-5)

3:37 Santa Anita (7): $200,000 California Cup Derby, Cal breds 3-years-old, 1 1/16 miles. Favorite: Better Trip Nick (5-2)

3:55 Fair Grounds (13): Grade 3 $200,000 Lecomte Stakes, 3-year-olds, 1 1/16 miles. Favorite: Scabbard (7-2)

4:07 Santa Anita (8): $200,000 California Cup Oaks, Cal-bred fillies 3-years-old, 1 mile on turf. Favorite: Warren’s Showtime (3-1)

Chris Wade’s LA pick of the day

RACE SIX: No 4 Tell Cartel (9-2)

He has a super trainer/owner combo that does well with runners at all levels of competition. He disappointed in his last effort as the favorite when gelding stumbled and veered out badly at the start to lose all chance from the outside portion of the racing surface. Still, the number accomplished that evening with everything factored in (trouble and track variant) puts the fast finisher in the mix for all the board placings.

Now, the stars of the show, Friday’s results and Saturday’s entries. .

Santa Anita Charts Results for Friday, January 17.

Copyright 2020 by Equibase Company. Reproduction prohibited. Santa Anita, Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, California. 10th day of a 60-day meet. Clear & Good

FIRST RACE.

1 Mile. Purse: $18,000. Claiming. Fillies and Mares. 4 year olds and up. Claiming Price $12,500. Time 23.49 47.55 1:13.32 1:26.74 1:41.03

Pgm	Horse	Wt	PP	St	¼	½	¾	Str	Fin	Jockey	$1
1	Discrete Stevie B	124	1	1	1–1½	1–1½	1–2	1–3½	1–3¼	Ochoa	31.80
4	Shanghai Barbie	124	4	5	3–½	2–1	2–1	2–1	2–3¼	Fuentes	3.30
3	Zillinda	124	3	3	2–½	3–hd	4–2½	3–hd	3–hd	Pereira	4.20
5	Flying Blue	124	5	2	4–hd	4–½	3–hd	4–4	4–3½	Cedillo	0.90
6	Reds Sacred Appeal	124	6	6	6	6	5–1½	5–5	5–15½	Roman	5.00
2	Laker Jet	119	2	4	5–2½	5–hd	6	6	6	Velez	14.40

1	DISCRETE STEVIE B	65.60	22.20	8.00
4	SHANGHAI BARBIE		4.20	3.00
3	ZILLINDA			4.60

$1 EXACTA (1-4)	$150.40
10-CENT SUPERFECTA (1-4-3-5)	$136.73
50-CENT TRIFECTA (1-4-3)	$239.15

Winner–Discrete Stevie B B.f.4 by Discreet Cat out of Whats Up Creampuff, by Mr. Greeley. Bred by Krenz Stables LLC (KY). Trainer: Marcelo Polanco. Owner: Marcelo Polanco. Mutuel Pool $107,413 Exacta Pool $48,725 Superfecta Pool $20,023 Trifecta Pool $29,519. Scratched–none.

DISCRETE STEVIE B sped to the early lead, set the pace inside then off the rail on the backstretch and second turn, drifted out into the stretch, drifted in from the whip in the final furlong and proved best. SHANGHAI BARBIE in tight three deep between foes into the first turn, stalked between rivals then off the rail, came out into the stretch, drifted in some in the drive and was clearly second best. ZILLINDA close up stalking the pace between foes then a bit off the rail, angled to the inside on the second turn, continued along the fence in the stretch and edged a rival for the show. FLYING BLUE four wide into the first turn, stalked outside then four wide leaving the backstretch, continued three deep on the second turn, came out into the stretch and was edged for third. REDS SACRED APPEAL angled in and settled off the rail then between horses leaving the backstretch, continued outside a rival on the second turn and lacked a rally. LAKER JET saved ground stalking the pace, dropped back on the second turn, gave way and was eased in the final furlong.

SECOND RACE.

1 Mile. Purse: $20,000. Maiden Claiming. Fillies and Mares. 4 year olds and up. Claiming Price $20,000. Time 23.71 48.19 1:14.65 1:28.27 1:42.17

Pgm	Horse	Wt	PP	St	¼	½	¾	Str	Fin	Jockey	$1
3	Info’s Treasure	119	3	4	5	5	4–2	3–6	1–nk	Velez	5.40
2	Gotta Be Lucky	119	2	1	4–5	3–hd	1–hd	1–½	2–2¼	Diaz, Jr.	2.90
4	Manresa	124	4	2	2–hd	2–1	2–2	2–2	3–13	Blanc	1.20
1	Lily’s Storm	124	1	3	1–½	1–½	3–hd	4–4	4–12	Prat	2.70
5	Probable	124	5	5	3–½	4–3½	5	5	5	Valdivia, Jr.	16.60

3	INFO’S TREASURE	12.80	5.20	2.60
2	GOTTA BE LUCKY		4.40	2.40
4	MANRESA			2.10

$2 DAILY DOUBLE (1-3)	$406.60
$1 EXACTA (3-2)	$17.60
50-CENT TRIFECTA (3-2-4)	$17.85

Winner–Info’s Treasure B.f.4 by Informed out of Sexy Melody, by Cuvee. Bred by Rick Zimmerman (CA). Trainer: Ian Kruljac. Owner: Zimmerman, Rick E. and Herrick, Doyle. Mutuel Pool $149,641 Daily Double Pool $20,475 Exacta Pool $69,053 Trifecta Pool $57,616. Scratched–none.

INFO’S TREASURE settled a bit off the rail then inside, came out leaving the second turn and three wide into the stretch and rallied under urging to get up in the final stride. GOTTA BE LUCKY between horses early, stalked just off the rail then inside, came out three deep on the second turn, bid alongside a rival to gain the lead a quarter mile out, fought back outside that one in the sfortretch, inched away in deep stretch and was edged on the line. MANRESA prompted the pace three deep between horses then outside a rival leaving the backstretch, took a short lead on the second turn, fought back inside leaving that turn and in the stretch until deep stretch and bested the others. LILY’S STORM sent inside, set a pressured pace along the rail, dropped back leaving the second turn, gave way in the stretch and was eased late. PROBABLE broke out a bit, forced the pace four wide on the first turn then stalked outside a rival, fell back in the stretch, also gave way and was eased in the final furlong.

THIRD RACE.

5½ Furlongs Turf. Purse: $55,000. Maiden Special Weight. 4 year olds and up. Time 21.75 45.24 57.42 1:03.49

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Pgm	Horse	Wt	PP	St	¼	3/8	Str	Fin	Jockey	$1
5	Odysseus	119	5	4	7–1½	7–1½	5–½	1–1¼	Velez	9.60
8	Big Cheddar	124	8	1	2–hd	3–3½	1–hd	2–hd	Pereira	9.50
7	Sky Jumper	124	7	3	3–2	2–hd	2–½	3–1	Van Dyke	2.00
3	Silenced	124	3	5	1–hd	1–hd	3–1½	4–2¼	Prat	1.20
1	Tyrannical Rex	119	1	7	8	8	7–2	5–hd	Diaz, Jr.	15.60
2	R Matineigh Idol	124	2	6	5–½	6–1½	6–1	6–1½	Delgadillo	25.80
6	Onceinabluemoon	124	6	8	6–hd	5–hd	4–hd	7–5¾	Rispoli	20.30
4	Big Headed Baby	124	4	2	4–1	4–hd	8	8	Cedillo	12.30

5	ODYSSEUS	21.20	9.40	6.00
8	BIG CHEDDAR		9.00	5.20
7	SKY JUMPER			3.60

$2 DAILY DOUBLE (3-5)	$128.60
$1 EXACTA (5-8)	$76.70
10-CENT SUPERFECTA (5-8-7-3)	$67.26
50-CENT TRIFECTA (5-8-7)	$160.85
10-CENT X-5 SUPER HIGH FIVE (5-8-7-3-1)		Carryover $1,111

Winner–Odysseus B.c.4 by Candy Ride (ARG) out of Charm the Giant (IRE), by Giant’s Causeway. Bred by Ron McAnally & Deborah McAnally (KY). Trainer: Richard E. Mandella. Owner: Cheyenne Stables LLC, Bass II, Perry R. and Bass, Ramona S.. Mutuel Pool $192,811 Daily Double Pool $22,555 Exacta Pool $111,762 Superfecta Pool $51,993 Trifecta Pool $74,822 X-5 Super High Five Pool $1,456. Scratched–none.

50-Cent Pick Three (1-3-5) paid $726.65. Pick Three Pool $34,304.

ODYSSEUS chased between horses then inside on the turn, came out into the stretch and again in midstretch and rallied under some urging to gain the lead nearing the wire and proved best. BIG CHEDDAR dueled three deep, was forced out a bit on the turn then battled three wide into the stretch, took a short lead outside foes in midstretch and edged a rival for the place. SKY JUMPER had good early speed and dueled between horses, also was forced out a bit on the turn, fought back between rivals in the stretch, put a head in front in deep stretch and was edged for second. SILENCED went up inside to duel for the lead, lugged out a bit on the turn then angled back in, fought back in the stretch and weakened some late. TYRANNICAL REX saved ground chasing the pace, came out on the turn and three wide into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. R MATINEIGH IDOL stalked inside then between horses on the turn and a bit off the rail into the stretch and lacked a rally. ONCEINABLUEMOON a bit awkwardly into stride, stalked three deep to the stretch and weakened some in the final furlong. BIG HEADED BABY had speed between horses and steadied in tight midway on the backstretch, angled in and saved ground stalking the pace and weakened along the fence in the drive.

FOURTH RACE.

6 Furlongs. Purse: $23,000. Maiden Claiming. Fillies. 3 year olds. Claiming Price $30,000. Time 22.48 46.57 59.67 1:13.30

Pgm	Horse	Wt	PP	St	¼	½	Str	Fin	Jockey	$1
3	La Rosa Drive	117	3	1	2–½	1–hd	1–1	1–3¼	Diaz, Jr.	1.50
1	It’s a Riddle	122	1	2	1–½	2–1	2–1½	2–nk	Cedillo	0.80
5	Golden Melodie	122	5	4	3–1	3–1½	3–3	3–4¼	Figueroa	14.10
4	Queen Arya	122	4	3	4–½	4–4	4–6	4–18½	Delgadillo	7.90
2	Kuda Huraa	122	2	5	5	5	5	5	Atzeni	17.80

3	LA ROSA DRIVE	5.00	2.40	2.10
1	IT’S A RIDDLE		2.20	2.10
5	GOLDEN MELODIE			3.00

$2 DAILY DOUBLE (5-3)	$47.40
$1 EXACTA (3-1)	$4.00
50-CENT TRIFECTA (3-1-5)	$5.30

Winner–La Rosa Drive Ch.f.3 by Discreet Cat out of Cassandra Lynne, by Horse Greeley. Bred by Tom Evans (KY). Trainer: David E. Hofmans. Owner: Tarabilla Farms, Inc.. Mutuel Pool $148,953 Daily Double Pool $18,762 Exacta Pool $66,251 Trifecta Pool $57,471. Scratched–none.

50-Cent Pick Three (3-5-3) paid $81.10. Pick Three Pool $20,739.

LA ROSA DRIVE had good early speed and dueled between horses then outside the runner-up on the turn, put a head in front leaving the bend, inched away under left handed urging in midstretch and won clear. IT’S A RIDDLE had good early speed and dueled inside, fought back on the turn and into the stretch and just held second. GOLDEN MELODIE four wide early, prompted the pace three deep then stalked off the rail leaving the turn, came three wide into the stretch, continued alongside the runner-up past midstretch and was edged for the place. QUEEN ARYA had speed between horses then was in a bit tight midway on the backstretch, stalked outside a rival then a bit off the rail on the turn and weakened. KUDA HURAA a bit slow to begin, chased a bit off the rail then inside, came out leaving the turn and three wide into the stretch and gave way.

FIFTH RACE.

1 Mile Turf. Purse: $33,000. Starter Optional Claiming. 3 year olds. Claiming Price $50,000. Time 22.71 45.71 1:10.81 1:23.43 1:35.89

Pgm	Horse	Wt	PP	St	¼	½	¾	Str	Fin	Jockey	$1
7	Fly the Sky	122	7	6	2–hd	2–1	1–hd	1–2½	1–5¼	Rispoli	2.20
4	Commander	120	4	2	4–3	4–6	3–2½	2–2	2–1¾	Cedillo	2.70
6	Govenor Cinch	122	6	7	5–2½	5–hd	5–hd	3–½	3–nk	Van Dyke	7.30
2	Leatherneck	120	2	5	7	7	7	5–2	4–1¼	Figueroa	8.20
1	Knifes Edge	122	1	4	6–3	6–6	6–2½	4–2	5–5½	Gutierrez	13.60
3	Ardenlee Star	115	3	3	3–1	3–½	4–hd	6	6	Diaz, Jr.	12.50
5	Brickyard Ride	115	5	1	1–2	1–2	2–2		dnf	Velez	3.10

7	FLY THE SKY	6.40	3.20	2.40
4	COMMANDER (FR)		3.40	2.40
6	GOVENOR CINCH			3.60

$2 DAILY DOUBLE (3-7)	$21.40
$1 EXACTA (7-4)	$10.30
10-CENT SUPERFECTA (7-4-6-2)	$23.29
$1 SUPER HIGH FIVE (7-4-6-2-1)	$1,037.90
50-CENT TRIFECTA (7-4-6)	$21.70

Winner–Fly the Sky Ch.g.3 by Boisterous out of Sky Diver, by Tale of the Cat. Bred by Gary Barber (CA). Trainer: Steven Miyadi. Owner: Barber, Gary, Barber, Cecil and Tsujihara, Kevin. Mutuel Pool $234,513 Daily Double Pool $24,218 Exacta Pool $119,356 Superfecta Pool $52,269 Super High Five Pool $4,719 Trifecta Pool $81,845. Claimed–Commander (FR) by Sinnott Family Trust. Trainer: Peter Miller. Scratched–none.

50-Cent Pick Three (5-3-7) paid $48.75. Pick Three Pool $35,585. 50-Cent Pick Four (3-5-3-7) 352 tickets with 4 correct paid $276.35. Pick Four Pool $127,428. 50-Cent Pick Five (1-3-5-3-7) 34 tickets with 5 correct paid $7,393.85. Pick Five Pool $292,336.

FLY THE SKY stalked three deep then outside a rival, steadied briefly into the second turn, bid outside the pacesetter to gain a slim lead on that bend, kicked clear under left handed urging in the stretch and was under a hold late. COMMANDER (FR) forced in when between foes and bumped early, stalked between rivals then outside a foe, steadied when crowded into the second turn, continued a bit off the rail on that bend and held second. GOVENOR CINCH chased a bit off the rail then outside a rival, went three deep leaving the second turn and into the stretch and just held third. LEATHERNECK steadied sharply off heels early, settled inside, came out into the stretch and was edged for the show. KNIFES EDGE also steadied sharply when bumped and squeezed along the rail early, saved ground chasing the pace, went between horses leaving the second turn and just off the inside into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. ARDENLEE STAR in tight and bumped early, stalked inside, cut the corner into the stretch and weakened. BRICKYARD RIDE had speed four wide then came in onto foes early, angled in and set the pace inside, bounced off the inner rail for several strides into the second turn, fought back inside the winner on that turn then ducked into and through the rail in upper stretch and fell. Claims of foul by the rider of KNIFES EDGE against COMMANDER and BRICKYARD RIDE for alleged interference early were not allowed by the stewards, who ruled BRICKYARD RIDE was the cause of the trouble. The stewards conducted an inquiry into the run of BRICKYARD RULE into the second turn and in the stretch before ruling he was the cause of his own trouble.

SIXTH RACE.

7 Furlongs. Purse: $22,000. Claiming. Fillies and Mares. 4 year olds and up. Claiming Price $12,500. Time 22.49 45.35 1:10.73 1:23.71

Pgm	Horse	Wt	PP	St	¼	½	Str	Fin	Jockey	$1
5	Majestic Diva	122	4	1	2–2	2–3	1–4	1–9¾	Pereira	4.20
2	Desert Smoke	122	1	4	1–hd	1–½	2–5	2–7	Cedillo	2.60
4	Conformation	124	3	3	4–2	3–hd	3–5	3–5¾	Gutierrez	1.80
3	Bragging Rights	122	2	2	5	5	4–2	4–6¾	Espinoza	10.60
6	Rattle	124	5	5	3–hd	4–3	5	5	Fuentes	2.50

5	MAJESTIC DIVA	10.40	5.20	2.80
2	DESERT SMOKE		4.20	2.60
4	CONFORMATION			2.40

$2 DAILY DOUBLE (7-5)	$68.00
$1 EXACTA (5-2)	$21.90
10-CENT SUPERFECTA (5-2-4-3)	$9.39
50-CENT TRIFECTA (5-2-4)	$28.55

Winner–Majestic Diva Ch.m.6 by Majestic Warrior out of Viva Vino, by Giant’s Causeway. Bred by GoldMark Farm, LLC (FL). Trainer: David Bernstein. Owner: Elva Winney. Mutuel Pool $184,396 Daily Double Pool $21,535 Exacta Pool $70,643 Superfecta Pool $31,399 Trifecta Pool $50,738. Claimed–Rattle by Zolotas, Steven and Zolotas, Sabina Romo. Trainer: Jorge Periban. Scratched–Beau Rocket.

50-Cent Pick Three (3-7-5) paid $25.55. Pick Three Pool $23,330.

MAJESTIC DIVA dueled outside a rival, took the lead leaving the turn, inched away into the stretch and drew off under a left handed tap of the whip and a steady hand ride then a long hold late. DESERT SMOKE had good early speed and dueled inside, fought back into the stretch and was clearly second best. CONFORMATION saved ground stalking the pace, came out leaving the turn and into the stretch and bested the others. BRAGGING RIGHTS chased inside then a bit off the rail, came three deep into the stretch and lacked a further response. RATTLE fractious in the post parade and warm up, stalked outside a rival, dropped back off the rail on the turn and had little left for the stretch.

SEVENTH RACE.

5½ Furlongs Turf. Purse: $25,000. Waiver Claiming. 4 year olds and up. Claiming Price $25,000. Time 21.70 44.78 56.79 1:03.05

Pgm	Horse	Wt	PP	St	¼	3/8	Str	Fin	Jockey	$1
4	Reedley	124	4	2	1–1½	1–1½	1–2½	1–½	Maldonado	7.00
8	Cunning Munnings	124	8	4	4–1	4–2	2–hd	2–nk	Cedillo	2.90
5	Exultation	124	5	1	2–hd	2–hd	3–1½	3–3¼	Prat	0.90
3	Lucky Romano	124	3	7	5–hd	5–hd	5–2½	4–2¼	Fuentes	18.90
2	Mike Operator	124	2	8	7–9	7–12	7–15	5–ns	Rispoli	7.60
7	Suances Secret	124	7	5	6–½	6–1	6–½	6–hd	Roman	57.10
1	Harliss	119	1	3	3–1	3–1½	4–1	7–18¼	Velez	10.80
6	Rineshaft	119	6	6	8	8	8	8	Diaz, Jr.	38.10

4	REEDLEY	16.00	6.80	2.60
8	CUNNING MUNNINGS		4.40	3.20
5	EXULTATION			2.20

$2 DAILY DOUBLE (5-4)	$86.00
$1 EXACTA (4-8)	$32.10
10-CENT SUPERFECTA (4-8-5-3)	$45.29
$1 SUPER HIGH FIVE (4-8-5-3-2)	$794.50
50-CENT TRIFECTA (4-8-5)	$34.25

Winner–Reedley B.c.4 by Paynter out of Elusive Horizon, by Elusive Quality. Bred by Hunter Valley Farm (KY). Trainer: Reed Saldana. Owner: Big Iron Racing, LLC. Mutuel Pool $184,132 Daily Double Pool $74,653 Exacta Pool $105,336 Superfecta Pool $57,346 Super High Five Pool $9,130 Trifecta Pool $79,645. Scratched–Moonoverthebayou, Soul Beam, You Must Chill.

50-Cent Pick Three (7-5-4) paid $78.50. Pick Three Pool $99,499. 50-Cent Pick Four (3-7-5-4) 879 tickets with 4 correct paid $190.20. Pick Four Pool $219,172. 50-Cent Pick Five (5-3-7-5-4) 41 tickets with 5 correct paid $3,082.20. Pick Five Pool $165,581. 20-Cent Pick Six Jackpot (3-5-3-7-5-4) 18 tickets with 6 correct paid $2,771.60. Pick Six Jackpot Pool $93,398. Pick Six Jackpot Carryover $453,423.

REEDLEY had speed between horses then inched away and angled in, set the pace along the inside, kicked away in the stretch and held on gamely under urging. CUNNING MUNNINGS three wide early, stalked off the rail, came three deep into the stretch and finished willingly. EXULTATION close up stalking the winner outside a rival, continued a bit off the rail in the stretch and also went on well between the top pair late. LUCKY ROMANO chased a bit off the rail then between foes, steadied off heels early on the turn, continued just off the rail on the turn and into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. MIKE OPERATOR saved ground chasing the pace, came a bit off the fence in the stretch and split horses at the wire. SUANCES SECRET stalked three deep then outside a rival on the turn, came three wide into the stretch and did not rally. HARLISS saved ground stalking the pace throughout and weakened in the final furlong, then was unsaddled nearing the clubhouse turn and vanned off. RINESHAFT dropped back off the rail early, angled in some leaving the backstretch, found the inside on the turn, came out in the stretch and was outrun.

	Attendance	Handle
On-Track	2,818	$429,500
Inter-Track	N/A	$1,211,758
Out of State	N/A	$3,061,803
TOTAL	2,818	$4,703,061

Santa Anita Entries for Saturday, January 18.

Santa Anita, Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, California. 11th day of a 60-day meet.

FIRST RACE.

1 1/8 Mile Turf. Purse: $70,000. Allowance Optional Claiming. 4 year olds and up. Claiming Price $20,000. State bred.

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wt	Trainer	M-L	Claim $
1	Uncontainable	Ruben Fuentes	120	Peter Miller	5-1
2	Play Money	Victor Espinoza	122	David E. Hofmans	4-1
3	Push Through	Mario Gutierrez	122	Edward R. Freeman	6-1
4	Jamming Eddy	Abel Cedillo	122	Peter Miller	3-1
5	Coast of Roan	Rafael Bejarano	122	Doug F. O’Neill	10-1
6	Blue Skye Jade	Jorge Velez	115	Reed Saldana	8-1
7	Jet Set Ruler	Flavien Prat	122	Richard Baltas	2-1

SECOND RACE.

6 Furlongs. Purse: $70,000. Allowance Optional Claiming. Fillies and Mares. 4 year olds and up. Claiming Price $20,000. State bred.

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wt	Trainer	M-L	Claim $
1	Time for Ebby	Abel Cedillo	122	Steve Knapp	4-1	20,000
2	Silk From Heaven	Eswan Flores	122	Hector O. Palma	8-1
3	Takethediamondlane	Aaron Gryder	122	Brian J. Koriner	7-5
4	Adorably Sweet	Flavien Prat	122	Mike Puype	3-1
5	D’s Lovely Sophia	Rafael Bejarano	120	Hector O. Palma	4-1
6	Time for Suzzie	J.C. Diaz, Jr.	115	Vladimir Cerin	7-2
7	Christy Jackson	Assael Espinoza	120	Steven Miyadi	6-1

THIRD RACE.

5½ Furlongs Turf. Purse: $150,000. ‘Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sp’. Stakes. Fillies and Mares. 4 year olds and up. State bred.

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wt	Trainer	M-L	Claim $
1	Just Grazed Me	Geovanni Franco	124	Philip D’Amato	6-5
2	Into Rissa	Tiago Pereira	120	Edwin Alvarez	50-1
3	Stealthediamonds	Agapito Delgadillo	122	Mike Puype	5-2
4	Show It N Moe It	Rafael Bejarano	124	Edwin Alvarez	9-2
5	Apache Princess	Flavien Prat	124	J. Keith Desormeaux	3-1
6	Lakerball	Abel Cedillo	122	Doug F. O’Neill	12-1
7	Lippy	Mario Gutierrez	120	Doug F. O’Neill	20-1

FOURTH RACE.

6 Furlongs. Purse: $45,000. Maiden Claiming. 3 year olds. Claiming Price $50,000. State bred.

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wt	Trainer	M-L	Claim $
1	Saturday Johnny	Heriberto Figueroa	122	Craig Anthony Lewis	20-1	50,000
2	I Dub Thee	Abel Cedillo	122	Edwin Alvarez	15-1	50,000
3	Seizetheday Rexy	Flavien Prat	122	Doug F. O’Neill	4-1	50,000
4	Nonno’s Polaris	Tiago Pereira	122	Hector O. Palma	5-2	50,000
5	Jungle Boy	Jorge Velez	117	Steven Miyadi	8-1	50,000
6	Alibi for Mischief	Agapito Delgadillo	122	Mike Puype	8-1	50,000
7	Racetrackers	Jose Valdivia, Jr.	122	Ronald W. Ellis	10-1	50,000
8	Sierra Melody	Evin Roman	122	Marcia Stortz	10-1	50,000
9	Royally Big	Drayden Van Dyke	122	Ronald W. Ellis	6-1	50,000
10	Papa Tony	Aaron Gryder	122	George Papaprodromou	5-1	50,000

FIFTH RACE.

6 Furlongs. Purse: $150,000. ‘California Cup Sprint’. Stakes. 4 year olds and up. State bred.

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wt	Trainer	M-L	Claim $
1	Baja Sur	Juan Hernandez	124	Blaine D. Wright	5-2
2	Fashionably Fast	Tiago Pereira	124	Dean Pederson	9-5
3	Oliver	Abel Cedillo	124	Doug F. O’Neill	4-1
4	Heck Yeah	Flavien Prat	122	Bob Baffert	6-1
5	Brandothebartender	Umberto Rispoli	122	Craig Dollase	15-1
6	Lieutenant Dan	Drayden Van Dyke	124	Steven Miyadi	7-2
7	League of Shadows	Ruben Fuentes	122	Kerri Raven	30-1

SIXTH RACE.

1 1/8 Mile Turf. Purse: $200,000. ‘Unusual Heat Turf Classic’. Stakes. 4 year olds and up. State bred.

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wt	Trainer	M-L	Claim $
1	Ward ‘n Jerry	Umberto Rispoli	120	Mike Puype	5-2
2	Cono	Mario Gutierrez	120	Michael W. McCarthy	15-1
3	Accountability	Rafael Bejarano	120	Rafael Becerra	15-1
4	The Hunted	Tiago Pereira	124	Richard Baltas	9-5
5	Wound Tight	Abel Cedillo	122	Robert B. Hess, Jr.	5-1
6	Desmond Doss	Drayden Van Dyke	120	Philip D’Amato	8-1
7	Mobou	Victor Espinoza	120	John A. Shirreffs	20-1
8	Ashleyluvssugar	Flavien Prat	120	Peter Eurton	7-2

SEVENTH RACE.

1 1/16 Mile. Purse: $200,000. ‘California Cup Derby’. Stakes. 3 year olds. State bred.

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wt	Trainer	M-L	Claim $
1	Bettor Trip Nick	Catalino Martinez	124	William Delia	5-2
2	Dapper	Geovanni Franco	124	Gary Stute	20-1
3	Sacred Rider	Abel Cedillo	124	Steven Specht	12-1
4	Summer Fire	Mike Smith	124	Robert B. Hess, Jr.	6-1
5	Club Aspen	Jorge Velez	124	Craig Anthony Lewis	3-1
6	Rookie Mistake	Mario Gutierrez	124	Doug F. O’Neill	8-1
7	Indian Peak	Juan Hernandez	124	Quinn Howey	10-1
8	Fast Enough	Tiago Pereira	124	Rafael Becerra	6-1
9	Big Returns	Ruben Fuentes	124	Doug F. O’Neill	5-1

EIGHTH RACE.

1 Mile Turf. Purse: $200,000. ‘California Cup Oaks’. Stakes. Fillies. 3 year olds. State bred.

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wt	Trainer	M-L	Claim $
1	Almost a Factor	Flavien Prat	124	Carla Gaines	6-1
2	Wise Rachel	Juan Hernandez	124	Quinn Howey	10-1
3	Bulletproof One	Ruben Fuentes	124	Peter Miller	8-1
4	Been Studying Her	Mike Smith	124	Dan Ward	4-1
5	Warren’s Showtime	Jorge Velez	124	Craig Anthony Lewis	3-1
6	Smokin Hot Bobbie	Rafael Bejarano	124	Reina E. Gonzalez	20-1
7	Midnight Sunrise	Geovanni Franco	124	Andy Mathis	20-1
8	Homehome	Mario Gutierrez	124	Doug F. O’Neill	15-1
9	Smiling Shirlee	Umberto Rispoli	124	Jeff Bonde	10-1
10	Cholula Lips	Tyler Baze	124	Mike Harrington	6-1
11	California Kook	Drayden Van Dyke	124	Peter Miller	10-1
12	Warrior’s Moon	Abel Cedillo	124	Peter Eurton	6-1

NINTH RACE.

6½ Furlongs. Purse: $70,000. Allowance Optional Claiming. 4 year olds and up. Claiming Price $20,000. State bred.

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wt	Trainer	M-L	Claim $
1	Tigre Di Slugo	Flavien Prat	122	Mike Puype	7-2
2	Loafers Boy	Tiago Pereira	122	Andrew Lerner	4-1
3	Afternoon Heat	Abel Cedillo	122	Steve Knapp	5-1
4	Clem Labine	Juan Hernandez	122	Andy Mathis	12-1
5	Rickey B	Eswan Flores	122	Manuel Ortiz, Sr.	15-1	20,000
6	Short of Ez	Heriberto Figueroa	120	Anna Meah	15-1
7	Posterize	J.C. Diaz, Jr.	117	Ian Kruljac	8-1	20,000
8	Perfect Wager	Umberto Rispoli	120	Jeff Mullins	8-1
9	Claim of Passion	Assael Espinoza	122	Philip D’Amato	12-1
10	Bob’s Sniper	Jorge Velez	115	Val Brinkerhoff	20-1
11	Rick’s Dream	Efrain Hernandez	122	Reed Saldana	20-1	20,000
12	Principe Carlo	Agapito Delgadillo	122	Marcelo Polanco	6-1	20,000

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A Laguna Beach man accused of paying body brokers to scout the country for patients for his sober-living home pleaded not guilty Friday to insurance fraud charges related to a scheme that prosecutors say extracted $3.2 million from medical insurance companies.

Steven Lomonaco, 61, also faces a sentencing enhancement allegation of aggravated white-collar crime over $200,000.

Prosecutors allege that Lomonaco, owner of the now-shuttered Casa Bella Recovery International in Laguna Beach, commissioned Mahyar “Christian” Mohases, 37, of Santa Ana, Robert Williams, 41, of Murrieta, Nicholas Reeves, 42, of Aliso Viejo and James Frageau, 29, of Temecula to travel across the country to recruit patients seeking substance abuse treatment. Lomonaco is alleged to have paid the body brokers up to $10,000 for each referred patient who stayed enrolled in treatment for more than 30 days.

Lomonaco was arrested Thursday and was booked into Orange County Jail with bail set at $250,000, according to jail records. He could face a maximum sentence of eight years and four months behind bars if convicted of all charges.

Mohases, Williams, Reeves and Frageau also have been charged in the case.

“Sober-living homes are valuable resources designed to facilitate recovery and healing for patients battling potentially life-threatening addiction issues,” Orange County Dist. Atty. Todd Spitzer said in a statement. “Instead of helping these patients, these individuals preyed on extremely susceptible people and exploited their addictions for profit.”

Sclafani writes for Times Community News.

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It’s so difficult for lifelong Dodgers fan Joseph Daniels to talk about that magical October night in 2017, when his boys in blue clinched a spot in their first World Series in 29 years.

Daniels was there, at Wrigley Field, for Game 5 of the National League Championship Series against the Chicago Cubs. He was part of that blue-clad Dodgers crowd that just wanted to bask in the euphoria, that chanted “We’re not leaving!” in the stands even after the stadium lights went down.

“It was surreal that we were actually going,” said Daniels, a 32-year-old diesel mechanic from Crestline. “I was born in 1987, and the last one we won was in 1988. Watching baseball that long and never getting that far — it was a great feeling.”

Now, it’s a gut punch.

It never made sense to Daniels that his Dodgers went on to lose the World Series to the Houston Astros. That is, until this week, when Major League Baseball released a report detailing how the Astros illegally used technology to steal opposing teams’ pitching signs in home games during the 2017 season.

Managers were fired; fines and additional punishments were issued. Other shoes — or baseball cleats — are likely to fall.

But that’s not enough for many Dodgers fans, especially after they learned that the Boston Red Sox, who beat the Dodgers in the 2018 World Series, also are under investigation for alleged cheating.

“There needs to be some kind of asterisk on those years, 2017 and 2018,” Daniels said. “No one won.”

Dodgers fans say they were robbed — of both sweet victory and of the steep cost of those World Series tickets — and many believe that Major League Baseball should strip the Astros of their championship.

On Tuesday, the L.A. City Council is scheduled to vote on a resolution demanding that MLB award both the 2017 and 2018 titles to Los Angeles.

“Our role is to raise our voice for something that we feel is a moral crisis,” said City Councilman Gil Cedillo, one of the sponsors of the resolution. “You see the challenges we have in Washington when we have people that don’t play by the rules. We don’t want to make cheating the new normal.“

Cedillo, whose district includes Dodger Stadium, and Councilman Paul Koretz each wrote separate, individual resolutions this week, without knowing the other man had done so. After they realized what had happened, they came together and co-sponsored the current resolution.

“We can’t allow the game to be treated this way with such an egregious example of cheating and not have a dogged response,” Koretz said. “I think this resolution makes the point that this is not just some people talking. The whole city officially feels wounded and offended.”

Desiree Garcia, co-owner of the Dodgers fan group Pantone 294 — named after the official shade of Dodger blue — said the last few days have been a roller coaster of emotions. They’re angry. They’re sad. They’re in denial.

“We have the strong, loyal fan base,” Garcia said. “The majority of us have grown up watching baseball with our grandparents on TV. It’s one of those things we’ve all grown up with and learned to love, and when baseball is affected it’s not just a Dodger thing. It’s a fan thing in general.”

But Garcia, and many others, she said, are just trying to stay positive and focus on the approaching season. She hopes the whole ugly situation just fires up the Dodgers, “lights a fire under their butts” and propels them to the victory they’ve deserved for so long, she said.

Garcia said devastated fans need to keep in perspective that the players themselves are hurting as well.

MLB has told teams to not comment on the situation. That did not stop players across the majors, including Dodgers outfielder Cody Bellinger and pitcher Alex Wood, from lamenting on Twitter.

“For the sake of the game, I hope this isn’t true,” Bellinger tweeted. “If true, there needs to be major consequences to the players. That completely ruins the integrity of the game!!!”

Joshua Zonni, 21, of Chino Hills, said his heart broke as he sat in Dodger Stadium during Game 7 of the 2017 World Series and watched the Astros celebrate on the field.

It was the first time he had seen his team play for a championship. The Dodgers’ 1988 World Series victory happened 10 years before he was born.

In 2017, Zonni said, he respected the Astros and “gave them props” for having the better team. Not anymore.

Zonni said he thinks MLB should give Los Angeles the title. Barring that, he said, the Astros should be stripped of the championship at “bare minimum.” But the damage is done, he said: The Astros robbed him and fellow Dodgers fans of a possibly once-in-a-lifetime experience, and that’s something they can’t get back.

“Anyone would agree that when a competitor cheats, the organization who plays fair is entitled to the championship,” Zonni said. “But either way, it will never be the same as watching your team win it live.”

Daniel Juarez, another Dodgers fan, sees it a little differently.

Juarez, 24, has worked at the Dodgers Clubhouse in Universal CityWalk for about two years and remembers how packed the fan apparel store was during the World Series. The scandal, he said, is unfortunate, especially since fans worked hard to be able to afford the expensive tickets.

Still, the North Hollywood resident doesn’t think L.A. should be awarded the championship.

“We know we deserve it, but it’s over with and done,” Juarez said. “Dodgers fans are the most loyal fans in baseball. We want a ring, but there’s nothing we can do about it. If they vacate the title, that will be justice for the fans and Los Angeles.”

Ethel Alvavrez, a 35-year-old fan from Whittier, agreed.

“You can’t do a redo, and the teams have changed since then,” she said. “I think Houston getting reprimanded is good, and they should also vacate the title.”

Daniels, of Crestline, said he too doesn’t want a 2017 or 2018 World Series trophy.

“I don’t like handouts,” he said. “I want the feeling when we win a World Series to be the most exciting moment of my life.”

That night in Chicago, when a World Series win seemed as if it was a given, Daniels had roamed the stadium in a state of pure joy with his uncle, Albert Bujanda of Yucaipa, who carried a homemade sign reading: “Airfare Cali to Chicago = $700. Hotel Room = $300. Ticket to NLCS = $600. Watching Your Boys in Blue Clinch: Priceless!”

A few days later, Daniels attended a World Series game at Dodgers Stadium with his father and his sister-in-law. Their left-field tickets cost about $1,200 apiece. The Dodgers lost that night, which hurt badly enough before the cheating news.

“That’s money we’re not going to get back,” Daniels said. “The good thing is I can say I got to go to the World Series with my dad. But it makes it hurt even more.”

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Good morning, and welcome to the Essential California newsletter. It is Saturday, Jan. 18.

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First, a quick scheduling note. This newsletter will be off Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day; we’ll return to your inbox Tuesday. Now, here’s a look at the top stories of the last week:

Jet fuel dumped over Cudahy. A Delta airplane returning to LAX after experiencing engine issues Tuesday dropped jet fuel onto a school playground, dousing several students. According to audio of communications with the control tower, the pilot had originally said no fuel dump was necessary. On Friday, air quality regulators cited Delta, and four teachers sued.

Avalanche near Lake Tahoe. A skier was killed and another seriously injured when an avalanche sent snow barreling down the mountain at Alpine Meadows Ski Resort just west of Lake Tahoe on Friday morning, authorities said.

Astros cheating investigation. Major League Baseball this week released a report detailing how the Houston Astros illegally used technology to steal opposing teams’ pitching signs in home games during the 2017 season. Dodgers fans, still heartbroken from that year’s World Series loss, say they want justice.

Rise of the Resistance opens. Disney’s new Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, which opened Friday at Disneyland and debuted last month at Walt Disney World, is being heralded as the company’s most technically advanced attraction — and a sign of the immersive revolution happening in our theme parks, writes Todd Martens.

UC tuition increases. The University of California is proposing five straight years of annual tuition increases under a sweeping plan to raise more money for financial aid and campus needs while providing a predictable roadmap of future cost hikes for students and parents.

Hollister Ranch sues California. In a new twist to one of the most high-profile — and longest — beach access battles in the state, Hollister Ranch sued officials Thursday over a new law designed to open its exclusive coastline to the public after decades of stops and stalls.

Adam Schiff takes on Trump. Rep. Adam Schiff was named Wednesday as the lead among seven House managers of the Trump impeachment trial. The 10-term congressman from Burbank has never faced an opponent quite like his current one, a president happy to turn a rival’s name into a potty joke and a schoolboy’s taunt.

The flu hits the young. The emergence of an unlikely strain of influenza has sickened and killed an unusually high number of young people this flu season, according to doctors and public health experts.

College admissions scandal. Emails disclosed in federal court Tuesday show USC questioned whether Lori Loughlin’s daughters were really athletes a year before the admissions scandal.

It’s “firefall season.” Each year, visitors to Yosemite National Park turn out to witness a natural phenomenon that lasts just two weeks in February: the winter “firefall.” Here’s how you can go and see it.

This week’s most popular stories in Essential California

1. The complete list of Oscar nominations. Los Angeles Times

2. Mayor Heidi Harmon calls out harassment. Then, a man is arrested charging into her San Luis Obispo office. San Luis Obispo Tribune

3. Answers to pressing San Francisco etiquette dilemmas, from “Judge” John Hodgman. SF Gate

4. New San Francisco Dist. Atty. Chesa Boudin fires several prosecutors. San Francisco Chronicle

5. The best café de olla in Los Angeles — and why you need to drink it. LAist

ICYMI, here are this week’s great reads

“The many lives of Roberto, a soup.” How a three-year-old soup recipe with a silly name, buried in a newsletter archive, exploded on Instagram. The New Yorker

Blankets, canned tuna and faith in God — how fleeing Venezuelans survive. First, the rich left Venezuela, hopping on international flights and wiring their savings abroad. The middle class departed next, often on buses that took days to cross multiple countries. Now, the poor are leaving on foot. The Los Angeles Times set out to document the journey, immersing a reporter and photographer for five days. Los Angeles Times

Cat Packer embodied the hopes for L.A.’s cannabis program. Can she overcome its stumbles? Los Angeles Times

Please let us know what we can do to make this newsletter more useful to you. Send comments, complaints, ideas and unrelated book recommendations to Julia Wick. Follow her on Twitter @Sherlyholmes. (And a giant thanks to the legendary Diya Chacko for all her help on the Saturday edition.)

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