Racing in the summertime has long been prevalent in Southern California. For decades, Hollywood Park supplied live Thoroughbred action during that time of year as it hosted all time great horses like Seabiscuit, Swaps, Round Table, and Affirmed. Bill Shoemaker won a plethora of riding titles at the Home of Champions over many summers between the 1950s and 1960s, and Laffit Pincay, Jr. and Chris McCarron topped the standings many times between them as the weather grew warmer. And trainers? William Molter and Bobby Frankel were the class of that division at the Track of Lakes and Flowers over several seasons.

But in 2014, the summer racing scene had shifted over to Los Alamitos Race Course in Cypress as Hollywood Park's story had concluded the previous winter. As a result, Del Mar, Los Alamitos and Santa Anita divided up race dates and stakes events. Among the contests being transferred to Los Alamitos was a longtime Hollywood Park staple in the Swaps Stakes.

First run in 1974, the Swaps was named after the great California-bred who had become the 1955 Kentucky Derby champion. Over time, it had counted talented Thoroughbreds like J.O. Tobin, Precisionist, Best Pal, Thunder Gulch and Free House among its winners. Major trainers like Laz Barrera, Noble Threewitt, Gary Jones, D. Wayne Lukas and Bob Baffert had all saddled winners of the Swaps, while longtime Southern California jockeys like Eddie Delahoussaye and Gary Stevens had joined the aforementioned riders as winners of the Swaps.

Like any stakes held over the course of forty years, the Swaps had become rich in history, and there was no surprise it was being continued at another racetrack.

But going into 2014, the Swaps Stakes underwent another major change in addition to having a new home: it was given a new name.

The Swaps Stakes had now become the Grade II Los Alamitos Derby. Still at a mile and one-eighth, the rebranded race drew a field of seven on July 5. The star of the field was none other than the favored Shared Belief, the reigning Champion Two Year Old Male who was undefeated in four starts. Already a Grade I and Grade III winner, Shared Belief and jockey Mike Smith took on fellow graded stakes winners Candy Boy, Can the Man and Top Fortitude, multiple group stakes champion Tonito M. and graded stakes placed Friendswith K Mill. Eddie's First, who had graduated from the maiden division two races earlier, completed the lineup.

Can the Man emerged with the lead as the horses made their way down the frontstretch for the first time. Eddie's First tracked on the inside while Shared Belief was on Can the Man's outside. They led the field going around the first turn after a first split of 23.54. The group was pretty bunched together by the time they reached the backstretch. Top Fortitude was behind Shared Belief, while Tonito M. raced on the outside of Top Fortitude. Candy Boy was on the extreme outside and made up ground to be part of the compact group. Trailing a long way back was Friendswith K Mill.

The half-mile was completed in 47.53. There was no lead change as the move into the far turn began. Can the Man still set the tempo, but Shared Belief was breathing down his neck. Candy Boy continued making his move, slotting into third place as they approached the top of the stretch. Before turning for home, Shared Belief took the lead from Eddie's First with ease. But Candy Boy went right with him as they straightened.

The next split was 1:11.09 for three-quarters of a mile. As he ran down the stretch, Shared Belief began to put a gap between himself and Candy Boy. The first mile was finished in 1:35.01. The advantage increased as the wire got closer, and Shared Belief moved strongly while looking relaxed. Candy Boy was second, and he did not make up any part of the deficit.

The Los Alamitos Derby marked the fifth consecutive win for Shared Belief, who was a few lengths ahead of Candy Boy after a final time of 1:47.01. Tonito M. took third, while Friendswith K Mill put together a rally for fourth.

A new era for summertime racing in Southern California was happening. The Swaps Stakes had a new name, but the race really had a constant from the days when it was held at Hollywood Park. During those forty years on Prairie Avenue, seeing a popular horse win the Swaps Stakes had not been unprecedented. Shared Belief had become popular before the summer began, so there was a degree of familiarity as the Swaps became the Los Alamitos Derby.

And ever since 2014, the race has gained more familiarity. Save for one year when it was contested in the autumn, the Los Alamitos Derby has established itself as a part of the summer racing scene in the Southland.