Lewis top two returning from layoffs

CYPRESS, Calif. – In a few months, the $75,000 Beverly Lewis Stakes at Los Alamitos on Saturday may be remembered as the start of successful late-season campaigns for Flor de La Mar and Motion Emotion.

In May, the two fillies struggled in major stakes. Motion Emotion and Flor de La Mar were eighth and 11th in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on May 3. Flor de La Mar was last of five in the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita on May 26. Neither started during the height of the summer.

The Lewis Stakes, for 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs, drew a field of six, none of whom has won a stakes.

Flor de La Mar, trained by Bob Baffert, has worked extremely well in recent weeks at Del Mar. Since late July, she had the fastest clocking of the morning on five occasions, including five furlongs in 59.60 seconds from the gate on Aug. 31.

Owned by Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin Racing, Flor de La Mar was second in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks at 1 1/16 miles on April 6 in her stakes debut and third start. Baffert blames himself for her performance in the Kentucky Oaks.

“I think the Kentucky Oaks was too much for her,” Baffert said. “She wasn’t ready for that.”

After the Summertime Oaks, Flor de La Mar needed a rest to regain weight.

“She was light,” he said. “She was going the wrong way. She’s got her weight back. I think she’s a really nice filly.”

Mike Smith rides Flor de La Mar, one of two mounts for the Hall of Fame rider on Saturday’s program.

Motion Emotion will have her debut for trainer Richard Baltas on Saturday, having previously been trained by Tom Van Berg. Motion Emotion was privately purchased over the summer by Abbondanza Racing and Medallion Racing from former owner Mark DeDomenico, who has retained an interest, Baltas said.

Baltas said the six-furlong distance of the Lewis may be too short for Motion Emotion, who was second by a length in two Grade 3 races at 1 1/16 miles at Oaklawn Park in the spring, the Honeybee Stakes on March 9 and the Fantasy Stakes on April 13.

Motion Emotion had six workouts for Baltas during the Del Mar summer meeting.

“I’m not so sure she’s a good sprinter, but she’s ready to run,” Baltas said. “I’m thinking a little more distance for her. So far, I like what I see. She’s worked well enough to run. She’s had some nice races before and she looks the part.”

Motion Emotion drew the outside post in the Lewis Stakes and is quick enough to lead.

The Lewis Stakes will be the stakes debut of Madame Vestal, who is trained by Eric Kruljac. Madame Vestal is a closer who won her 3-year-old debut by a neck in an allowance race with a $40,000 claiming option at Del Mar on Aug. 3. She rallied from 11th to reach the front in the final strides.