Gas Station Sushi rolls to six-length score in Beverly Lewis

CYPRESS, Calif. – A wide trip aboard Gas Station Sushi was no concern to jockey Mario Gutierrez in Saturday’s $75,000 Beverly Lewis Stakes at Los Alamitos.

Gas Station Sushi held a narrow advantage while racing three wide on the backstretch, dueled for the lead throughout, and pulled clear in the final furlong to win her first start since May in the six-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies.

Gutierrez said the race unfolded in his favor shortly after the start.

“She broke super,” he said. “I was comfortable. I thought the outside would be the best.”

Sent off favored, Gas Station Sushi ($4.20) was timed in 1:08.54, earning a 94 Beyer Speed Figure.

“It’s a great feeling when you have a tremendous amount of horse and you push the button and they accelerate,” Gutierrez said.

Gas Station Sushi finished six lengths clear of 2-1 Steph Being Steph, who was also part of the pace but faded from contention in the final furlong.

Best of Me, a 10-1 chance, finished third, followed by Broome, Rayya, and Wicked Storm. Spiced Perfection, a two-time stakes winner against California-breds, was scratched on Saturday morning.

Gas Station Sushi, by Into Mischief, has won 3 of 4 starts and earned $187,600. Bought for $240,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sale of 2-year-olds in-training in March 2017, Gas Station Sushi won her debut at Del Mar in August 2017 but did not race again that year.

Earlier this year, Gas Station Sushi won the Grade 3 Beaumont Stakes at Keeneland in April and was third in the Grade 2 Eight Belles Stakes at Churchill Downs on May 4. Trainer Richard Baltas said earlier this week that Gas Station Sushi emerged from the Eight Belles Stakes “a little stiff,” resulting in a layoff in early summer.

Gas Station Sushi races for the partnership of Riley Racing Stable, Jason and Megan Tackitt, Mike Henson, and Tiger Racing Stable.

The Lewis Stakes was the third stakes win for Baltas this week. At Kentucky Downs, Baltas won Thursday’s Old Friends Stakes with Next Shares and Saturday’s Grade 3 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf Stakes with Insta Erma.