Soi Phet nominated to Grade 1 Awesome Again

CYPRESS, Calif. – Soi Phet and Masochistic, one-two in the Los Alamitos Mile on Saturday, will move up in class at Santa Anita. Soi Phet, who has won eight races and $435,606 since being claimed for $16,000 in May 2013, was nominated to the Grade 1 Awesome Again on Sept. 27.

Soi Phet earned a 94 Beyer Speed Figure in the Los Alamitos Mile. His rivals in the Awesome Again are expected to include Pacific Classic winner Shared Belief. Soi Phet, trained by Leonard Powell, finished third in the Awesome Again last year.

Masochistic lost by 7 1/4 lengths as the even-money favorite, but trainer A.C. Avila plans to give the gelding another shot at two turns in the Grade 2 City of Hope at one mile on turf Oct. 4. Avila believes a two-week turnaround and light training contributed to Masochistic’s defeat. Avila did not train him hard during Del Mar because it was not necessary.

“Normally, he would have two seven-eighths,” Avila said, referring to a workout pattern heading into a route.

In the City of Hope, Masochistic is expected to set the pace. Obviously, a front-runner, will train up to the Breeders’ Cup Mile. Tom’s Tribute also is expected to skip the City of Hope and go directly into the Breeders’ Cup Mile, although trainer Jim Cassidy did not rule out the City of Hope.

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