Soi Phet to make one or two starts at Del Mar

CYPRESS, Calif. – The popular 10-year-old stakes winner Soi Phet may have as many as two starts at the Del Mar summer meeting following his nose win in Wednesday’s Bertrando Stakes for California-bred milers at Los Alamitos.

Trainer Leonard Powell said he is considering the $150,000 California Dreamin’ Stakes for Cal-breds at 1 1/16 miles on turf and the $75,000 Harry Brubaker Stakes at a mile on dirt Aug. 22 for Soi Phet. If one race is chosen, the Brubaker is more likely, he said.

In the Bertrando, Soi Phet rallied from fourth to take the lead in the final furlong. The win was worth $60,000 for Powell’s wife, Mathilde, Paul Viskovich, and Gerald Benowitz. Soi Phet has won 15 of 59 starts and earned $1,015,250. He was claimed for $16,000 in 2013 and has since earned $978,170.

Going past seven figures in earnings was largely symbolic, Powell said.

“Financially, it means a lot,” he said. “I’ve never put a figure on it. It’s just a round number.”

Soi Phet has won consecutive stakes, beginning with a 47-1 upset in the Crystal Water Stakes for statebred milers on turf at Santa Anita in May. He was 7-2 in the Bertrando and was warmly received in the winner’s circle. The moment left Powell on the verge of tears.

“You put a lot of hours into all the horses, and sometimes it doesn’t work out,” he said. “These are things that you only dream about it. When it works, it’s very satisfying.”

After the race, Magic Mark, who finished last of eight, collapsed and died in the stable area. Magic Mark, the 5-2 second choice, was second to the quarter pole before fading from contention.

A necropsy is planned, per California Horse Racing Board regulations.

“We thought he was having a heatstroke when he laid down,” trainer Ron Ellis said on Friday. “He stopped breathing.

“It’s purely speculation what happened. You would have to think it was a heart issue.”

Magic Mark, an 8-year-old gelding, raced for owners and breeders John and Dorine Lanza and won 6 of 24 starts. Magic Mark earned $397,404 and won two stakes – the 2015 Bertrando Stakes at Los Alamitos and the 2016 Brubaker Stakes at Del Mar.