From Los Alamitos Publicity
CYPRESS, Calif. (June 23, 2020) — The first of two thoroughbred meets at Los Alamitos this year will begin Friday, June 26, with the $100,000 Soi Phet Stakes for Golden State Series eligibles on Saturday, June 27. Los Alamitos remains closed to the public for both daytime thoroughbred and nighttime quarter horse racing. Racing will be conducted with only essential staff permitted inside the facility.
Run at one mile, the Soi Phet – which was formerly named the Bertrando (2014-2019) – honors a gelding who was a five-time stakes winner at Los Alamitos prior to his retirement at age 11 last year. Two of his local victories came in the Bertrando, including the inaugural running in 2014.
The season will be highlighted by a pair of graded stakes races – the Grade II, $200,000 Great Lady M. for fillies and mares (3-year-olds & up) at 6 ½ furlongs and the Grade III, $150,000 Los Alamitos Derby for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles.
Both will be run Saturday, July 4. The Los Alamitos Derby is part of the “Road to the Kentucky Derby’’ in 2020. The winner will receive 20 points towards a berth in the Kentucky Derby, which will be run Saturday, Sept. 5 at Churchill Downs.
The wagering menu includes the Pick Six – with the traditional 70-30 split – a pair of $1 Pick 4’s – races 2-5 and the final four races – as well as the extremely popular Players’ Pick 5 – a 50-cent minimum wager with a reduced 14% takeout rate which is offered on the first five races.
The seven-day Summer Thoroughbred Festival will continue through Sunday, July 5 with racing conducted Friday-Sunday (June 26-28) the first week and Thursday-Sunday (July 2-5) the final week. Post time each racing day is 1 p.m.