CYPRESS, Calif. (Sept. 9, 2017) – Soi Phet successfully defended his title in the $75,000 E.B. Johnston Stakes for California-breds at Los Alamitos.
Soi Phet, bred by ARCHA Racing, won his fourth stakes at Los Alamitos for the Benowitz Family Trust, Mathilde Powell and Paul Viskovich.
Trained by Leonard Powell, the 9-year-old Tizbud gelding is out of the Siberian Summer mare Summer Jersey. He has won 13 of 55 and banked $876,170, capturing a pair of local stakes – the Bertrando and Los Alamitos Mile – in 2014 prior to his half-length score in last year’s Johnston.
“This horse means nearly everything to me,” said Powell. “It’s going to be sad when he’s not with me anymore. He loves the long stretch here. He’s a bit of a grinder and he keeps on coming and the stretch here helps him.’’
Soi Phet ran the mile in 1:35.71 and won by one-half length over He Will with El Huerfano third. Even-money favorite Gold Rush Dancer, coming off a win in the Longacres Mile, finished last.
“He’s something else,” said jockey Kent Desormeaux. “A real trooper. I just want to give him a big hug. I actually thought we would be sitting fourth, but he came out running and then just outdueled them.’’