Faypien, Queen Laila headline competitive Beverly Lewis

CYPRESS, Calif. – The $75,000 Beverly Lewis Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Los Alamitos on Saturday may have a modest purse, but could have ramifications for prestigious races in coming months.

The Lewis Stakes is one of two stakes on a nine-race program at Los Alamitos. The other is the $75,000 E.B. Johnston Stakes for California-bred milers.

Faypien, second in the Grade 1 Test Stakes at Saratoga, takes a plunge in class for the Lewis Stakes, which is run at six furlongs. The Lewis could move Faypien closer to a start in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Del Mar on Nov. 4.

“We’re hoping, as we get closer,” trainer Bob Baffert said of a potential Breeders’ Cup run.

Queen Laila was fourth to Faypien in the Angels Flight Stakes at Santa Anita in May and won an optional claimer for 3-year-old fillies in her most recent start on June 4. The Lewis Stakes will be her fourth start, and one trainer Simon Callaghan hopes will lead to more lucrative races later this year.

“It’s a pretty competitive race for a 75 grander,” Callaghan said.

After the Angels Flight at seven furlongs, Faypien won her only start around two turns – the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita on June 17. Faypien was beaten four lengths by the Callaghan-trained American Gal in the Test Stakes at seven furlongs on Aug. 5 as the 2-1 favorite.

Baffert said the Lewis fits in Faypien’s late summer schedule.

“I’m just trying to find a spot for her,” he said.

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Owned by Susan and Charles Chu, Faypien is likely to race as a stalker against six rivals in the Lewis.

Queen Laila drew the rail and has sufficient speed to be an early factor. She was fitted with blinkers for the first time on June 4 and will race with them again on Saturday.

“The blinkers seem to help,” Callaghan said. “I think she’s ready to run her race. The 1 hole makes it tough.”

Queen Laila has been off since June because of a “minor setback,” Callaghan said.

Trainer Peter Miller supplemented two fillies for $1,500 each – Auntjenn, who was fifth in an optional claimer against older fillies and mares at Del Mar on Aug. 17, and Chalon, who won the Jersey Girl Stakes at Belmont Park in June and was fourth in the Test.

E.B. Johnston draws six

The six-horse field for the E.B. Johnston is led by Gold Rush Dancer, the winner of the Grade 3 Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs on Aug. 13.

Gold Rush Dancer gave Vann Belvoir the distinction of winning the race as a jockey, in 1994, and now as a trainer.

“I don’t think it’s sunk in yet,” he said.

Gold Rush Dancer’s half-mile work in 46.80 seconds at Del Mar last Sunday convinced Belvoir to start him in the Johnston Stakes rather than wait for another race.

“We’d rather run than work,” Belvoir said.

Apprentice jockey Evin Roman, who rode Gold Rush Dancer in the Longacres Mile, has the mount on Saturday. Gold Rush Dancer is likely to be near the front.

Soi Phet, a 9-year-old gelding, tries to win the Johnston for the second year in a row. Trained by Leonard Powell, Soi Phet was third in two stakes at Del Mar – the July 29 California Dreamin’ Stakes on turf and the Brubaker Stakes going a mile on dirt on Aug. 23.

He Will, supplemented to the Johnston for $1,500, was second by a head in the California Dreamin’, and eighth, beaten three lengths, in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on turf on Aug. 19.

El Huerfano, another supplemental entry, may set the pace. He lost all chance in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar on July 22 after Roman lost his irons at the start. Flavien Prat has the mount on Saturday.

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