Smokey Image has chance to regain winning ways in Bertrando

CYPRESS, Calif. – Smokey Image will try to snap a seven-race winless streak in Saturday’s $100,000 Bertrando Stakes for California-breds going a mile at Los Alamitos.

Smokey Image, 4, won his first six starts, including five stakes at tracks throughout California, before his form tailed off in early 2016. He was third in both of his starts this year at Santa Anita, an optional claimer against open company at 6 1/2 furlongs on March 31 and behind the Grade 1 winner What a View and Pee Wee Reese in the Crystal Water Stakes for California-bred turf milers on May 20. Pee Wee Reese won Tuesday’s Grade 3 American Stakes at Santa Anita.

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Smokey Image was being considered for the $100,000 Lennyfromalibu Stakes on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita last Tuesday, but the race was canceled because of a lack of entries. Running instead on dirt in the Bertrando may work to the 4-year-old colt’s advantage, trainer Carla Gaines said.

“A mile on the dirt seems to make the most sense,” she said. “He ran well on the grass. I think dirt is his best surface.”

Five of the remaining six entrants in the Bertrando are stakes winners – Ambitious Brew, Avanti Bello, Gold Rush Dancer, Magic Mark, and Soi Phet. Taman Guard was third in the Shared Belief Stakes at Del Mar last year.

Soi Phet and Magic Mark won the 2014 and 2015 runnings of the Bertrando.

KEY CONTENDERS

Smokey Image, by Southern Image

Last 3 Beyers: 99-85-76

◗ Despite the recent losses, Gaines remains optimistic that Smokey Image can be competitive on Saturday. The race should have an honest pace with the presence of Ambitious Brew and Magic Mark. Smokey Image has set the pace and raced as a stalker.

“He is a nice horse, and he’s grown up mentally, too,” she said.

Soi Phet, by Tizbud

Last 3 Beyers: 95-83-81

◗ Soi Phet, a threat from off the pace, won his only start of 2017 in an optional claimer at a mile at Santa Anita on May 21. Age has not slowed the 9-year-old gelding, trainer Leonard Powell said.

“He’s as good as he was a few years ago,” Powell said. “I think the last start was a big help.”

Ambitious Brew, by Tizbud

Last 3 Beyers: 97-97-98

◗ Ambitious Brew, second in the Grade 3 Daytona Stakes on turf at Santa Anita on May 27, won the 2015 E.B. Johnston at Los Alamitos.

◗ Trained by Marty Jones, Ambitious Brew has raced only on turf in the last year and won the Sensational Star on the hillside course at Santa Anita in February.