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Desmond Doss will seek his third stakes win at Los Alamitos when he faces five opponents in the $75,000-guaranteed E. B. Johnston Saturday.
Restricted to 3-year-olds & up bred or sired in California, the one-mile Johnston is the eighth of nine races on the second day of the September Thoroughbred meet. Post time Saturday is 12:30 p.m. and approximate post time for the Johnston is 4:01 p.m.
Trained by Steve Miyadi for owner-breeder Nick Alexander, Desmond Doss has won the last two runnings of the Bertrando Stakes (2021-2022) at Los Alamitos and was third in last year’s Johnston in his only other local appearance.
A 6-year-old gray son of Grazen and the Malek mare Malley Girl, Desmond Doss has won seven of 20 and earned $422,841.
Undefeated in three starts for owner William Peeples, Big City Lights will make his first start around two turns in the Johnston.
A 3-year-old son of Mr. Big and the Exchange Rate mare Champagne Exchange, Big City Lights returned after a layoff of more than 13 months to capture the Real Good Deal Aug. 5 at Del Mar, going gate-to-wire as the 7-5 favorite in his first start for Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella.
A winner of his races by a combined 21 lengths, Big City Lights has banked $196,350.
Owned by a partnership that includes Sondereker Racing LLC, Robert Fetkin, Richard Thornburgh and trainer Eric Kruljac, The Chosen Vron gets some class relief after splitting the field in the Grade II Pat O’Brien last month at Del Mar.
A gelded son of Vronsky and the Tiz Wonderful mare Tiz Molly, The Chosen Vron has won five of nine and earned $363,678. In his only main track race beyond seven furlongs, the 4-year-old won the Grade III Affirmed June 13, 2021.
Trained by Doug O’Neill for R3 Racing LLC, Appreciated stretches out again after finishing seventh of eight in a turf sprint Sept. 1. The race was the first in nearly six months for the 6-year-old gelding, who won the Curlin Stakes at 10 furlongs earlier this year at Meydan Race Course in the United Arab Emirates.
Out of the Belong to Me mare Wise Investor, Appreciated is 6-for-34 with earnings of $354,672.
Sixth of 11 when 45-1 in the California Dreamin’ Aug. 6 at Del Mar, Luvluv goes turf to dirt for Michael Neumann and owner-breeders Francoise and Jean-Pierre Dupuis and trainer John Sadler.
A 5-year-old son of Lakerville and the Fasliyev mare Lucera, Luvluv has won three of 21 and banked $195,782. In his last start at Los Alamitos, the gelding won an optional claimer at the Johnston distance June 26.
Crash Corrigan will try one mile on dirt for only the second time in his career when he aims for his fourth victory at Los Alamitos.
A 4-year-old Grazen gelding out of the Afleet Alex mare Shesabronxbomber, Crash Corrigan trailed against $50,000 maidens in his only previous try at the distance during the 2020 Winter meet when trained by Miyadi.
Owned by a partnership that includes Belico Racing LLC, Felipe Carlos and trainer Lorenzo Ruiz, Crash Corrigan has five of 21 and earned $2512,952. He’s won three of five at Los Alamitos.
From inside out, the field for the E.B. Johnston Stakes: Big City Lights, Juan Hernadez rides, 120 pounds; The Chosen Vron, Hector Berrios, 124; Crash Corrigan, Ramon Vazquez, 122; Desmond Doss, Drayden Van Dyke, 124; Appreciated, Ryan Curatolo, 124 and Luvluv, Edwin Maldonado, 122.
