Soi Phet vs. talented sprinter

CYPRESS, Calif. – The long 1,380-foot stretch at Los Alamitos is like a second home for veteran distance specialist Soi Phet, but is uncharted territory for sprinter Edwards Going Left.

Soi Phet and Edwards Going Left meet for the first time Saturday in the $75,000 E.B. Johnston Stakes, a one-mile race for California-breds that 10-year-old Soi Phet has won twice. He has won 5 of 9 at Los Alamitos. Trainer Leonard Powell believes he knows why.

“It is because of the long stretch,” Powell said. “He really enjoys the long stretch. Every race, at about the three-eighths pole, he kind of hits a flat spot. The long stretch gives him plenty of time to regather his momentum.”

Soi Phet passed $1 million in earnings this July by winning his fifth route stakes at Los Alamitos and his eighth overall. Not bad for a horse claimed five years ago for $16,000. On Saturday, however, Soi Phet faces a tough rival.

The challenge facing Edwards Going Left is distance. Why is a stakes-winning sprinter stretching to one mile around two turns?

“The spot is because he’s Calbred,” trainer John Sadler said. “It’s more about using conditions than the distance. I don’t know that he’s a great distance horse, but a mile at Los Al should be in his range.”

Horseplayers who adhere to the cliché “never bet a horse trying something new” will miss the most probable winner Saturday. Edwards Going Left has never raced two turns, but based on his speed figures in sprints, he is the fastest horse in the field. Sadler has prepared him for the route.

“I’ve had plenty of time to train him up to this race, and his last workout was a bullet,” Sadler said, referring to a 1:12.60 six-furlong workout last Saturday at Del Mar. “I had him [galloping] out in 1:24 and 4.”

Edwards Going Left, the 5-2 preliminary favorite by linemaker Russ Hudak, and 3-1 second choice Soi Phet are the principals in the E.B. Johnston, race 6. The $75,000 Beverly J. Lewis Stakes for 3-year-old sprint fillies is race 8.

Others in the E.B. Johnston are co-third choices B Squared and Grecian Fire, along with Shades of Victory, Touched by Autism, and El Huerfano.

KEY CONTENDERS

Edwards Going Left, by Midnight Lute Last 3 Beyers: 94-95-102

◗ He finished fourth, beaten less than three lengths, in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby at Del Mar in his most recent start on July 28. That was his first start in more than four months.

“That was a surprisingly tough race, and he ran really respectably,” Sadler said. “He was running at the end.”

◗ Edwards Going Left, claimed by Hronis Racing for $50,000 from his sixth-place debut in early 2017, has won seven races and $447,390 from 13 starts. In addition to two Calbred stakes wins, he finished second in the Grade 1 Malibu and third in the Grade 1 Triple Bend. ◗ Tyler Conner is named to ride.

Soi Phet, by Tizbud Last 3 Beyers: 80-94-92

◗ His fourth at Del Mar last out was partly because the race was strangely run, with only four starters. Powell said Soi Phet “got a bit surprised making a middle move, and he just flattened out.”

“I think it was mostly the way the race was run,” he said.

◗ With limited Cal-bred stakes ahead, Powell said Soi Phet will get a break after Saturday and aim for a 2019 campaign at age 11. Soi Phet has won 15 races and $1,021,364 from 60 starts. He is owned by Benowitz Family Trust, Mathilde Powell, and Paul Viskovich. Alonso Quinonez rides.

B Squared, by Square Eddie Last 3 Beyers: 98-99-94

◗ Fifth in a Grade 2 on turf last out, B Squared finished a nose behind Soi Phet in July and a head behind Soi Phet in May. He has won four races and $415,698 from 20 starts, all for owner and breeder J. Paul Reddam and trainer Doug O’Neill.