Published Wednesday, August 24th, 2016   ( 7 years ago )

Soi Phet, Magic Mark Win Brubaker Stakes Divisions

Soi Phet (Left) Magic Mark © Benoit Photo
 
Soi Phet, an 11-10 favorite, and Magic Mark, a 10-1 outsider in the betting, shared honors Wednesday as they won divisions of the featured Harry F. Brubaker Stakes at one mile on the main track.
 
Soi Phet, a bargain $16,000 claim in May of 2013 by trainer Leonard Powell, was a convincing winner of the first section, scoring by 2 ¼ lengths under Kent Desormeaux in 1:35.05 for the distance. It was the eight-year-old Tizbud gelding’s ninth victory in the colors of the ownership combine which claimed him – Benowitz Trust, Powell, Mathilde and Viskovich.
 
Solid Wager, a 15-1 longshot, was second to Soi Phet, with Grazen Sky third in the field of six. Firing Line was scratched.
 
Soi Phet returned $4.20, $3.40 and $2.40; Solid Wager returned $9.40 and $3.20, while Grazen Sky paid $3 to show. First money of $60,360 from a gross purse of $99,145 increased the winner’s earnings to $705,096, most of which he has earned since being claimed.
 
In the second division, Magic Mark and jockey Drayden Van Dyke led virtually from start to finish in scoring by 2 ¼ lengths in 1:35.55. The six-year-old Benchmark gelding is owned by Dorine and John Lanza and trained by Ron Ellis. Runner-up was Songforjohnmichael with Avanti Bello third in the field of seven horses. Conquest Cobra, the 2-1 choice, was fourth.
 
Magic Mark returned $23, $11.20 and $5.40; Songforjohnmichael paid $17.60 and $6.60, while Avanti Bello returned $4.40 to show. The victor earned $60,900 from a gross purse of $100,735. It was his sixth win in 16 starts and he now has earned $325,634.