From Los Alamitos Publicity
CYPRESS, Calif. (Aug. 16, 2015) — A newly-created Starter Showdown Series – with purses totaling $175,000 – and five other stakes races worth a combined $450,000 will be offered during the upcoming Los Angeles County Fair at Los Alamitos meet.
The 10-day season will begin Thursday, Sept. 10 and continue through Friday, Sept. 25. Racing will be conducted on a Thursday-Sunday basis the first two weeks, then conclude with two days (Sept. 24-25) before the Southern California scene shifts to Santa Anita Saturday, Sept. 26.
The Starter Showdown Series, which will debut on closing day, consists of five races – varying in distance from 5 ½ furlongs to one mile – for horses eligible for $8,000, $16,000 and $25,000 starter allowance contests.A six-furlong race, the $45,000 Seal Beach Stakes is the richest in the Series. The other stakes are the $30,000 Buena Park (5 ½ furlongs), the $30,000 Westminster (5 ½ furlongs, fillies and mares), the $35,000 Rossmoor (One Mile) and the $35,000 Long Beach (One Mile, fillies and mares).
Won a year ago by Uzziel (left), the $75,000 Beverly J. Lewis Stakes will kick off the Fall meet Sept. 10. Named for the widow of the late Bob Lewis, a prominent owner and longtime fixture in the horse racing industry, the Lewis is for 3-year-old fillies at 6 ½ furlongs.
The Los Alamitos stakes schedule also includes three races for 2-year-olds – the $100,000 Contender at one mile (Sunday, Sept. 13), the $100,000 Barretts Debutante for fillies at 6 ½ furlongs (Saturday, Sept. 19) and the $100,000 Barretts Juvenile at 6 ½ furlongs (Sunday, Sept. 20).
The remaining stakes race on the calendar is the $75,000 E.B. Johnston Stakes for 3-year-olds & up either bred or sired in California. The Johnston, which will be run at one mile, will be offered Saturday, Sept. 12.
The complete stakes schedule:
Date Race Purse Conditions
Thursday, Sept. 10 Beverly J. Lewis Stakes $75,000 3-Year-Old Fillies at 6 ½ Furlongs
Saturday, Sept. 12 E.B. Johnston Stakes $75,000 3-Year-Olds & Up at One Mile
(California bred or sired)
Sunday, Sept. 13 Contender Stakes $100,000 2-Year-Olds at One Mile
Saturday, Sept. 19 Barretts Debutante $100,000 2-Year-Old Fillies at 6 ½ Furlongs
(Offered at any Barretts Sale)
Sunday, Sept. 20 Barretts Juvenile $100,000 2-Year-Olds at 6 ½ Furlongs
(Offered at any Barretts Sale)
STARTER SHOWDOWN SERIES
Friday, Sept. 25 Buena Park Stakes $30,000 3-Year-Olds & Up at 5 ½ Furlongs
(Qualifying for an $8,000 starter race)
Friday, Sept. 25 Westminster Stakes $30,000 3-Year-Olds & Up, Fillies & Mares at 5 ½ Furlongs
(Qualifying for an $8,000 starter race)
Friday, Sept. 25 Rossmoor Stakes $35,000 3-Year-Olds & Up at One Mile
(Qualifying for a $16,000 starter race)
Friday, Sept. 25 Long Beach Stakes $35,000 3-Year-Olds & Up, Fillies & Mares at One Mile
(Qualifying for a $16,000 starter race)
Friday, Sept. 25 Seal Beach Stakes $45,000 3-Year-Olds & Up, 6 Furlongs
(Qualifying for a $25,000 starter race)