From Los Alamitos Publicity
CYPRESS, Calif. (Aug. 31, 2019) – The $100,000 E.B. Johnston Stakes for California-breds will be part of a stakes double-header on Saturday, Sept. 7, the second day of the Los Angeles County Fair meet at Los Alamitos.
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert nominated four horses to the $75,000 Beverly J. Lewis Stakes. Restricted to 3-year-old fillies, the six-furlong Lewis will be the other part of the stakes doubleheader.
The $100,000 E.B. Johnston Stakes will be one mile and includes defending champion Shades of Victory.
Owned and trained by Reed Saldana, Shades of Victory was 80-1 when he wired the field in the 2018 Johnston, holding off B Squared by a head with Edwards Going Left another head back in third.
A gray son of Thorn Song, the 5-year-old has won five of 25 and earned $150,170.
The other nominees are California Journey, who scored in his Los Alamitos debut July 7, Chieftain’s Lad, Cruel Intention, Feeling Strong, Fire When Ready, Oliver, Smokey Image, Three Ay Em and Tule Fog.
Baffert, who will be seeking his first win in the Lewis at Los Alamitos, nominated Der Lu, Flor de La Mar, Message and Qahira.
A $375,000 purchase as a 2-year-old, Qahira, who is owned by Baoma Corporation, has won three of five in her career, including her last two. Her first victory of 2019 came in her Los Alamitos debut July 17. The Cairo Prince filly out of the Bates Motel mare Motel Lass has banked $103,560.
The Lewis nominees also include Kim K., a daughter of Will Take Charge owned by Rockingham Ranch and trained by Peter Miller, who is already a stakes winner at Los Alamitos. She captured the Barretts Debutante in her second career outing during the 2017 LACF meet.
The other Lewis nominees are Andyoushallreceive, Devils Dance, Dichotomy, Don’t Sell, Holly Hundy, Madame Vestal, Magic At Midnight, Miss Ava’s Union, Mo Me Mo My, Motion Emotion, Nat Gio, Scarlet and So Gucci.
Opening day for the Los Angeles County Fair meet at Los Alamitos is Friday, Sept. 6. Entries for the Lewis and Johnston will be taken Wednesday, Sept. 4.