Los Alamitos specialist Soi Phet tops E. B. Johnston

Soi Phet, a double stakes winner at Los Alamitos, and Magic Mark, an 11-1 upsetter in the 2015 Bertrando, top a field of five older California breds in the $75,000 E.B. Johnston Saturday at Los Alamitos.

The one-mile Johnston, won a year ago by Ambitious Brew, is the eighth of nine races. Post time Saturday is 2 p.m.

The other stakes scheduled for Saturday – the $75,000 Beverly J. Lewis for 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs – won’t be offered due to insufficient entries. Los Alamitos racing secretary Bob Moreno said Wednesday afternoon there is a possibility the Lewis could be run Sunday, Sept. 11.

In addition to the Johnston, Saturday will also be “California Chrome Day’’ at Los Alamitos.

In conjunction with a proclamation from the City of Cypress, the track will honor its most famous resident and North America’s richest thoroughbred.

Although the 5-year-old son of Lucky Pulpit will not make an on-track appearance Saturday afternoon, fans are invited to watch California Chrome work that morning. He is scheduled to drill five furlongs at 7 a.m. for trainer Art Sherman as he continues to prepare for the Grade I, $300,000 Awesome Again Stakes Oct. 1 at Santa Anita.

A California Chrome plush toy will be given to the first 2,500 in attendance – with paid admission – and a presentation will be made by Cypress city officials between races to members of the California bred’s team, including Sherman. There will also be a video montage featuring highlights of California Chrome’s career.

A winner of 10 graded stakes and with earnings of $13,252,650, California Chrome’s victories include the 2014 Kentucky Derby and Preakness, the 2016 Dubai World Cup and, in his most recent race, the 2016 TVG Pacific Classic Aug. 20 at Del Mar.

Owned by Benowitz Family Trust, Mathilde Powell and Paul Viskovich and trained by Leonard Powell, Soi Phet has been 1-2 in four of five starts at Los Alamitos, winning the Bertrando Stakes and Los Alamitos Mile in 2014.

Runner-up in the 2015 Johnston, the 8-year-old Tizbud gelding out of the Siberian Summer mare Summer Jersey earned his 10th lifetime victory – in his 47th start - as the 11-10 favorite in the first division of the Harry F. Brubaker Aug. 24.

The 2 ¼ length win pushed the dark bay over $700,000 in earnings with most of it banked since he was claimed by his current connections for $16,000 May 3, 2013 at Hollywood Park.

Owned by breeders John and Dorine Lanza and trained by Ron Ellis, Magic Mark defeated Ambitious Brew and seven others in last year’s Bertrando.

In his most recent outing, the 6-year-old gelded son of Benchmark led throughout at 10-1 to win the second division of the Brubaker.

Out of the Deputy Governor mare Jewel Magic, Magic Mark has six wins in 16 attempts and has banked $325,634.

Third behind Magic Mark in the Brubaker, Avanti Bello will be aiming for his first victory at Los Alamitos.

Trained by Doug O’Neill for a partnership that includes Steve Keh, Pablo Suarez and Wonderland Racing Stables, the 4-year-old Include colt out of the Mizzen Mast mare Masterful Lass is 4-for-16 with earnings of $261,668.

In three earlier races locally, Avanti Bello finished third behind Boozer and Soi Phet in the 2016 Bertrando and chased Ambitious Brew and Soi Phet in last year’s Johnston. He trailed when favored in an optional claimer here last Dec. 6.

Runner-up at nearly 19-1 in the Brubaker division won by Magic Mark, Sonforjohnmichael will be making his initial appearance at Los Alamitos for trainer Dan Hendricks.

Owned by R L Stables LLC, the 5-year-old Songandaprayer gelding out of the Quiet American mare Silent Demand has won four of 13 and has a bankroll of $186,850.

El Huerfano switches to the main track and shortens up after finishing fourth at 56-1 in the Grade II Del Mar Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on turf Aug. 20.

The Tannersmyman ridgling out of the Capsized mare Adriftinthebay has won four of 18 and earned $170,112. He is 1-for-7 in 2016, defeating Whiskey Ticket in an optional claimer March 31. Peter Miller trains El Huerfano for Wachtel Stable and Gary Barber.

From inside out, the field for the E.B. Johnston: Songforjohnmichael, Joe Talamo rides, 124 pounds; Magic Mark, Drayden Van Dyke, 124; El Huerfano, Martin Pedroza, 124; Soi Phet, Mike Smith, 124 and Avanti Bello, Santiago Gonzalez, 124 pounds.

Source: Los Alamitos Race Course