Enola Gray tops Beverly J. Lewis Nominations

A total of 27 horses were nominated to the $75,000 Beverly J. Lewis Stakes and $75,000 E.B. Johnston Stakes which will be run Saturday, Sept. 10, opening weekend of the Los Angeles County Fair meet at Los Alamitos.

Restricted to 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs, the Lewis attracted 15 nominees, including the undefeated Enola Gray, who has won her three starts by a combined 26 ½ lengths.

Scheduled for one mile, the E.B. Johnston is for 3-year-olds & up bred n California. Among the dozen nominees are Soi Phet, who won both the Bertrando Stakes and Los Alamitos Mile in 2014, Magic Mark, upset winner of the 2015 Bertrando, and Patriots Rule, who won the 2014 Johnston when it was run at 6 ½ furlongs.

Owned by breeder Nick Alexander and trained by Phil D’Amato, Enola Gray, a gray daughter of Grazen and the More Than Ready mare Unsung Heroine, won her debut by 16 ¼ lengths April 10 at Santa Anita before winning the Melair Stakes May 28 and the Fleet Treat July 22 at Del Mar. She was scratched from the Torrey Pines Stakes Aug. 28 due to a minor illness, but is expected to start in the Lewis.

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert nominated five to the Lewis, including multiple stakes winner Pretty N Cool, Emmzy, Jade Princess, Swift Lady and Los Alamitos graduate Fantasy of Luck.

The other nominees are Bendable, who has won two of three for Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella, Brainspin, who won twice in a span of 27 days at Del Mar for trainer John Sadler, Dashin Ashen, Dreamarcher, Everqueen, Invested Prospect, Seaside Glory, Star of Munster and Uptown Twirl, who has won half of her eight starts for Sadler and Hronis Racing LLC, including the Surfside Stakes April 24 at Los Alamitos.

Owned by a partnership and trained by Leonard Powell, Soi Phet has been 1-2 in four of five starts at Los Alamitos. The 8-year-old gelded son of Tizbud, who has won 10 of 47 and earned $705,096, comes off a victory in the first division of the Harry F. Brubaker Aug. 24 at Del Mar.

Rounding out the nominees for the Johnston are Avanti Bello, third in the 2015 Johnston and third in the 2016 Bertrando, Chief of Staff, El Huerfano, Grazen Sky, He Will, Howdy, Poshsky, Songforjohnmichael and Taman Guard, an easy debut winner April 17 at Los Alamitos for Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.

Opening day of the 12-day Fall season is Thursday, Sept. 8. Entries for the Lewis and Johnston will be taken Wednesday, Sept. 7.

Source: Los Alamitos