From Los Alamitos Publicity
CYPRESS, Calif. (Sept. 4, 2019) – Shades of Victory, who scored an 80-1 upset in the 2018 E.B. Johnston Stakes, will try for a repeat in the $75,000 race Saturday at Los Alamitos.
Restricted to 3-year-olds & up bred or sired in California, the one-mile Johnston is part of a stakes doubleheader on the second day of the Los Angeles County Fair meet. Six 3-year-old fillies will get together in the $75,000 Beverly J. Lewis at six furlongs.
The Lewis is the fifth of nine races while the Johnston will go as the eighth. Post time Saturday is 1 p.m.
Owned by trainer Reed Saldana and bred by C-Punch Ranch, Shades of Victory led throughout in last year’s Johnston, holding off B Squared by a head with Edwards Going Left another head back in third.
A son of Thorn Song and the Street Sense mare Sensible Girl, the 5-year-old gelding is winless in seven subsequent starts, most recently trailing in the grassy Green Flash Handicap Aug. 17. He’s earned $150,170 while winning five of 25.
Shades of Victory will try to become the second horse to go back-to-back in the Johnston at Los Alamitos. The now-retired Soi Phet won the race in 2016 and 2017.
Queen Bee to You will try for her second stakes win over males at Los Alamitos this year for trainer Andrew Lerner.
Owned by Christopher St. Hilaire and Adam Vali and bred by Tommy Town Thoroughbreds, the 5-year-old daughter of Old Topper and the Touch Gold mare Silk Queen cashed in the Bertrando Stakes at today’s distance during the Summer Thoroughbred Festival. She’s banked $410,770 while winning five of 28.
Cruel Intention will try two turns for the first time in his career for a partnership that includes Jungle Racing LLC, LNJ Foxwoods and Nexus Racing Club hoping to earn his initial win of 2019.
A beaten favorite in his three starts as a 3-year-old, the Smiling Tiger colt out of the Pleasantly Perfect mare Perfect Feat is 2-for-5 with earnings of $173,210 for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. He was bred by Premier Thoroughbreds.
Another 3-year-old trying a route of ground for the first time on dirt is Oliver, who was bred by Thomas Bachman.
An easy last out winner Aug. 17 for William R. Peeples and trainer Doug O’Neill, the Papa Clem colt out of the Premiership mare Snobby Princess has won three of 12 and earned $186,451. He was second in his lone start at Los Alamitos as a maiden July 4, 2018 when trained by Luis Mendez.
California Journey, trained by Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer for owner/breeder Dunns Down LLC, is 1-for-1 at Los Alamitos, having won an optional claimer as the 11-10 favorite July 7.
The 5-year-old Good Journey gelding out of the Abstract mare Callie Mae has won three of 16 and banked $158,470.
A 5-1 winner against $32,000 claimers at the Johnston distance Aug. 14, Fire When Ready will be aiming for his second victory at Los Alamitos.
Owned by Ron Paolucci Racing LLC and trained by Bob Hess, Jr., the 4-year-old Kentucky-bred by California stallion Empire Way gelding out of the Slewdledo mare Armed N Dangerous has won four of 12 and earned $150,416. He collected his local score in his second career start Dec. 17, 2017 when trained by Patricia Harrington, who bred Fire When Ready with Dr. Mikel Harrington.
Smokey Image will be hoping to end an extended losing streak as he goes turf to dirt for Irvin Racing Stable and trainer Carla Gaines.
The 6-year-old Southern Image gelding out of the Free House mare Special Smoke is 6-for-22 lifetime with a bankroll of $541,297, but his last victory came Jan. 30, 2016 in the California Cup Derby.
In two races this year, Smokey Image has finished fourth of six in the Thors Echo June 15, then was 10th of 11 in the California Dreamin’ July 26. He was bred by C-Punch Ranch.
Tule Fog, who was defeated by a nose by Queen Bee to You in the Bertrando, will be seeking his first victory of 2019 for Carolyn Sherry and Sierra Stables, Inc. and trainer Javier Sierra. He was bred by Richard Barton Enterprises.
The 5-year-old Surf Cat horse out of the Free House mare Teardownthewall is 3-for-19 with earnings of $195,718. All three of his wins have come on turf.
The field, from inside out, for the E.B. Johnston Stakes: Cruel Intention, Evin Roman rides, 124 pounds; Queen Bee to You, Ruben Fuentes, 121l; Tule Fog, Tiago Pereira, 122; Shades of Victory, Edwin Maldonado, 124; Smokey Image, Mike Smith, 124; Fire When Ready, Abel Cedillo, 122; Oliver, Martin Garcia, 122 and California Journey, Geovanni Franco, 122.