Warhorse Soi Phet starting season in Crystal Water Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – At the age of 11, Soi Phet is the senior racehorse in Southern California, and one of the most popular.

An eight-time stakes winner, Soi Phet is raced sparingly by trainer Leonard Powell, and the limited campaigns have prolonged the gelding’s career. Saturday at Santa Anita, Soi Phet will have his 2019 debut in the $100,000 Crystal Water Stakes for California-breds at a mile on turf.

Powell has said this will be Soi Phet’s final season on the track. The duration of the campaign will be determined by Soi Phet’s performances.

“We’ll go race by race,” Powell said.

Owned by Powell’s wife, Mathilde, Paul Viskovich and Gerald Benowitz, Soi Phet won the 2018 Crystal Water in a 47-1 upset last May, and followed with a win in the Bertrando Stakes on dirt at Los Alamitos in July. Saturday’s Crystal Water will be Soi Phet’s first start since a sixth in the E.B. Johnston Stakes at Los Alamitos last September.

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The Crystal Water Stakes drew a field of seven, with one prominent absence. Pee Wee Reese, the winner of the Sensational Star Stakes on the hillside turf course on March 31, was not entered in the Crystal Water or the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday.

Trainer Phil D’Amato said Pee Wee Reese was recently diagnosed with a bruised foot.

“Thankfully, everything else checked out A-okay,” D’Amato said.

Aside from Soi Phet, the other stakes winners in the Crystal Water are Brandothebartender, who won the California Flag Handicap for statebreds at five furlongs on turf here last October, and Hardboot, who won the Silky Sullivan Stakes for statebred 3-year-olds at Golden Gate Fields last April.

KEY CONTENDERS

Soi Phet, by Tizbud
Last 3 Beyers: 86-83-94

◗ Powell considered an allowance race for Soi Phet’s comeback, but the race failed to draw sufficient entries.

“It’s quite a task off the layoff,” Powell said of running in the Crystal Water. “It’s a good starting point for 2019.

“He’s sharp enough to run well. The fact that Pee Wee Reese is not there is a plus.”

◗ Alonso Quinonez, aboard for both wins last year, will ride Soi Phet, who races as a stalker.

◗ A winner of 15 of 61 starts who has earned $1,022,864, Soi Phet retains enthusiasm for exercise, Powell said.

“He’s happy to go to the track,” Powell said. “He’s a joy around the barn. He’s holding his weight really well. He’s happy and sound. There is nothing else I can ask.”

Brandothebartender, by Tribal Rule
Last 3 Beyers: 96-90-84

◗ Owned by Flawless Racing, Brian Flanagan and Michael Jarvis, Brandothebartender won an allowance race for statebreds at a mile on turf here on Dec. 31 and finished third to Pee Wee Ree in the Sensational Star.

“We were coming off a little break,” said trainer Craig Dollase of Brandothebartender’s race in the Sensational Star. “He ran on well and came out in good shape.”

◗ The presence of the speedy Tule Fog, fifth in the 2018 Crystal Water, may help Brandothebartender, who runs from off the pace.

“Hopefully, we get the right trip,” Dollase said. “It looks like there is a little pace to run at. We’re optimistic.”