Soi Phet, ridden by Kent Desormeaux, broke his own record for eight furlongs as the gelding won Saturday's $200,000 Los Alamitos Mile at Los Alamitos Race Course.
Trained by Leonard Powell, Soi Phet went off as the 9-2 third pick in the eight-horse field with Masochistic the even-money favorite.
Masochistic set the pace as Soi Phet stalked the leader. Soi Phet moved into second along with Clubhouse Ride as the field moved around the final turn. The 6-year-old went past Masochistic at the top of the stretch and cruised to a 7 1/4-length victory.
Masochistic, winner of his prior three races, finished second in his fifth career start with Tonito M. third and Sky Kingdom fourth. Rounding out the finish were Wrightwood, Rock Me Baby and Clubhouse Ride. Forward March was eased in the stretch. Kate's Event was a scratch.
Soi Phet covered the mile in 1:33.95, breaking his own mark of 1:34.50 when he won the Bertrando Stakes on July 3.
Owned by a partnership that includes Gerald and Sandra Benowitz, Mathilde Powell and Paul Viskovich, Soi Phet added $120,000 to his earnings which now total $472,686. The 6-year-old has won eight of 29 career starts.
Soi Phet defeated fellow California-breds in the Bertrando by 3 3/4 lengths as an 11-1 longshot. He came back on July 26 to finish seventh in Del Mar's San Diego Handicap.
Earlier this year, the gelding was fifth in the Tiznow and sixth on the grass in the Charles Whittingham, both at Santa Anita. On June 8 he won a starter handicap on the turf at Santa Anita.
Soi Phet returned $11.60, $4.20 and $3.60. Masochistic paid $3.40 and $3.00, and Tonito M. paid $4.60 to show.
[SportsNetwork.com]
