Shades of Victory, Gas Station Sushi sweep Los Alamitos stakes

A $12,500 claim by owner-trainer Reed Saldana earlier this year, Shades of Victory scored an 80-1 upset in the $75,000 E.B. Johnston Stakes Saturday at Los Alamitos.

Two races later, there was no such surprise as 11-10 favorite Gas Station Sushi rolled to an easy victory in the $75,000 Beverly J. Lewis Stakes.

Entered in the Johnston only because a race Saldana had wanted to enter recently at Del Mar failed to fill, Shades of Victory made the lead immediately under jockey Martin Pedroza, then fought late when challenged to his outside by 4-1 second choice B Squared and inside by 4-5 favorite Edwards Going Left to win by a head.

The $162.60 win price was the second largest since daytime thoroughbred racing returned to Los Alamitos in the summer of 2014. Devils Triangle, who won the fourth race Dec. 11, 2016, holds the record of $185.80.

The victory in 1:35.17 was the fifth in 18 lifetime starts for the 4-year Thorn Song colt and his second in five attempts since he was taken by Saldana April 7 at Golden Gate Fields.

Out of the Street Sense mare Sensible Girl, Shades of Victory, who returned $43.80 to place and $7.60 to show, improved his bankroll to $141,499.

“Down the stretch I was just hoping he would hold on,’’ said Saldana. “(Pedroza) rode a great race.

“We decided to run him here because a race at Del Mar didn’t fill, so it worked out great. I thought the distance would be to his benefit. One of the reasons I claimed him was because he had a won a race at Sacramento last year where he showed a lot of fight just like he did today.’’

B Squared, who finished a head in front of Edwards Going Left, paid $4.20 and $2.40 while the show price on the public choice, who broke poorly in his first start beyond seven furlongs, was $2.20.

Completing the order of finish were Grecian Fire, El Huerfano, Soi Phet, who was seeking his sixth stakes win at Los Alamitos and his third Johnston in a row, and Touched by Autism.

One race after Shades of Victory’s shocker, Marrazano, an 18-1 outsider, easily defeated nine other 2-year-old maiden fillies to complete a daytime thoroughbred record daily double. The $2 payoff on the combination was $5,223.60, shattering the old mark of $3,202.20 in races 8-9 Dec. 6, 2014.

Making her first start since finishing a distant third in the Grade II Eight Belles May 4 at Churchill Downs, Gas Station Sushi scrimmaged for the early lead in the Lewis with longshots Wicked Storm and Broome, then easily repelled a challenge from 2-1 second choice Steph Being Steph en route to a six-length victory.

Owned by a partnership that includes Riley Racing Stables LLC and Tiger Racing Stable and trained by Richard Baltas, Gas Station Sushi, a 3-year-old Into Mischief filly out of the Five Star Day mare Five Star Daydream, is now 3-for-4 and has banked $187,600.

“I got a chance to work her at Del Mar last week and that gave me a lot of confidence,’’ said winning rider Mario Gutierrez. “She is a very nice filly.’’

Riley Racing Stables’ Jerry Riley indicated Gas Station Sushi could be making a return trip to Keeneland next month. The $240,000 2-year-old purchase, who won the Grade III Beaumont over the Lexington track April 8, may surface in the $250,000 Lexus Raven Run Oct. 20. A Grade II, the Raven Run is seven furlongs, the same distance as the Beaumont.

Gas Station Sushi, who ran the six furlongs in 1:08.54, paid $4.20 and $2.60. There was no show wagering.

Steph Being Steph, who finished 2 ½ lengths in front of 10-1 shot Best of Me, returned $2.60.

Broome, Rayya and Wicked Storm completed the order of finish. Spiced Perfection was scratched.

Racing resumes Sunday at Los Alamitos. Post time is 1 p.m. PT.