Soi Phet romps in Los Alamitos Mile
CYPRESS, Calif. – The storybook $16,000 claim of Soi Phet keeps getting better. The rags-to-riches gelding crushed Masochistic on Saturday in the $200,000 Los Alamitos Mile to score the biggest win of his career by a lopsided 7 1/4 lengths.
Since he was claimed for $16,000 in May 2013, Soi Phet was won 7 of 13 starts and earned $373,206 for an ownership group and trainer Leonard Powell.
Kent Desormeaux rode Soi Phet ($11.60) to the 1:33.95 track-record win. Three records were set the first two days of the meet, including two on Friday – Regally Soul went six furlongs in 1:08.73, and Patriots Rule went 6 ½ furlongs in 1:14.60.
The Los Alamitos Mile unfolded as expected. Soi Phet raced third early, moved into second position on the backstretch, and always had pacesetter Masochistic in his sights.
Nearing the eighth pole, Soi Phet ran past a reeling Masochistic and drew away. Masochistic held second by a half-length over Tonito M. The finish order was completed by Sky Kingdom, Wrightwood, Rock Me Baby, Clubhouse Ride, and Forward March.
Even-money Masochistic was stretching out from three dominant sprints, but faded in his first try around two turns. Trainer A.C. Avila said he will consider the Grade 2 City of Hope, a one-mile turf race Oct. 4 at Santa Anita, for his next start.
Soi Phet, whose $120,000 payday increased his career bankroll to $472,686, will be considered for the Grade 1 Awesome Again on Sept. 27 at Santa Anita. He finished third in the Awesome Again one year ago.
Uzziel proves uncatchable in Beverly Lewis
Earlier Saturday, Uzziel popped the gate in the $75,000 Beverly J. Lewis Stakes for 3-year-old fillies and wired the field under Tyler Baze. Uzziel ($10.20) won by three-quarters of a length in 1:14.70.
Ramona’s Wildcat finished second; Miss Super Quick was third. Completing the order of finish were Classy Ava, Mon Petite, Sprague River, and favorite Delta Flower.
Mike Puype trains Uzziel, a Harlington filly winning for the third fourth time in eight starts. She has earned $152,638.