OffTrackBetting.com – The Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes comes our way this Sunday, July 17 from Del Mar Race Track in Del Mar, California. Horses three years old and upward will be after the winner’s share of the $250,000 purse when they take to Del Mar’s turf track and race 1 1/8 miles.
Nine older entries will give it a go in the Eddie Read Stakes – race 9 on Del Mar’s Sunday schedule. Post time is 6:10 PM. Here is a glance into the past performances of all nine combatants for this Grade 2 stakes.
2016 Eddie Read Stakes Race Preview at Del Mar Race Track
Midnight Storm 5-2 – defending fifth place finisher in this race won the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby in August, 2014 for trainer Phil D’Amato and had a second in the 2015 Shoemaker Mile in June but hadn’t been the same after that before a terrific win last time out on the 2016 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita June 4. Before his most recent win was a seventh in the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Classic at Churchill Downs May 7, a fourth in the Grade 1 Frank E. Kilroe Mile in March and a nice win in the Grade 2 Seabiscuit Handicap at Del Mar November 27. He also had a sixth in the Grade 3 Eddie D Stakes October 3 and a tenth in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar in August. Midnight Storm has six wins and three seconds in 16 career starts and has placed in just two of his last seven starts overall (both graded stakes wins however). He hopes for his second straight graded stakes score Sunday on a Del Mar turf track that he’s won three of four starts – from post 5 with Rafael Bejarano guiding the morning line favorite.
Bolo 3-1 – has 11 career starts with four wins, a second and two third place finishes for trainer Carla Gaines and enters off an ugly tenth in the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic at Churchill Downs May 7. It followed a respectable second in the Grade 1 Frank E. Kilroe Mile in March and a win in the Grade 2 Arcadia Stakes February 13. Before that he was last of nine as favorite in the Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational last July 4. Other results of note include a disappointing twelfth in the 2015 Kentucky Derby, a third in the 2015 Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby April 4 and another third in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes – his graded stakes bow March 7, 2015. Bolo has won two of his last five starts overall but has a knack of throwing in a dud as well. He hopes to rebound off another one of those duds when he leaves from the outside post 9 with Mike Smith scheduled to ride the morning line second choice.
Bet Del Mar Race Track Horse Racing with OffTrackBetting.com
Flamboyant 9-2 – French bred Peter Gallagher trained gelding was last seen running a quality fifth in the Group 1 Dubai Turf at Meydan March 26 against some of the best turf horses on the planet. He looked terrific before that winning the Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes in February and the Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes in January – both at Santa Anita. He placed in just one of eight starts before that however including a sixth five starts back in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap, a sixth before that in the minor Wickerr Stakes last July and another sixth in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby in November, 2014. Flamboyant has been at his best in 2016 and now has five wins, three seconds and four third place finishes in 20 career starts. He hopes to channel his early-2016 form from gate 2. Flavien Prat gets the call on this intriguing third betting choice.
Finnegans Wake 6-1 – defending third place finisher in this race Peter Miller trainee has eight wins, four seconds and four third place finishes in 35 career starts and was on fire at the beginning of 2015 when he placed in five straight starts (four wins) – a win in the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic at Churchill Downs May 2 followed a second in the Grade 2 San Luis Rey Stakes and a three straight victories – the Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes February 7, the Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes January 3 and the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup here November 27. He hasn’t been all that great since – an Allowance Optional Claiming score last time out at Santa Anita June 16 followed a fifth in the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes May 29 and a sixth in the Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes April 9. He also posted consecutive fourth place finishes last year – in the Grade 1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita June 27 and in the Grade 1 Manhattan Stakes at Belmont Park June 6. Finnegans Wake looks for his fifth graded stakes score and first in over a year from gate 6 with Tyler Baze in the reins.
Ashleyluvssugar 6-1 – has 14 career starts for trainer Peter Eurton with six wins, a second and three third place finishes. Last time out was an OK third in the minor Crystal Waters Stakes at Santa Anita June 11 which followed 10 months away from the track, a respectable second in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap last August, an uncharacteristic sixth in the Grade 1 United Nations Stakes at Monmouth July 5 and a nice three race win streak in 2015 – in the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes May 24, by 2 1/4 lengths over Finnegan’s Wake in the Grade 2 San Luis Rey Stakes March 21 and an Allowance Optional Claiming score in February. Ashleyluvssugar has placed in five of her last six starts and looks to regain the form that saw her look unstoppable 14 months ago. Gary Stevens has been tabbed with accomplishing that goal from the rail.
Ohio 8-1 – Brazilian bred Paulo Lobo trainee has six win and two seconds in 10 career starts – four wins and two seconds in seven starts at home including three of his last four there. He debuted in North America in March and won an Allowance Optional Claiming and went on to a sixth in the Grade 3 American Stakes in May and another Allowance Optional Claiming score last time out June 12 – all three at Santa Anita. Ohio has been good in his career so far but has yet to post a stakes/group score. Brice Blanc has been tabbed with changing all of that from post 7 Sunday.
Si Sage 12-1 – French bred James Cassidy trainee was at his best in the late 2013/early part of 2014 – a second in the Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes followed a third in the Grade 2 Sir Beaufort Stakes in December, 2013. He failed to place in six races after that but had a nice win last April 25 in the Grade 3 Last Tycoon at Santa Anita. Si Sage was sent to the sidelines for a year and has three starts since – another good win last time out in the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes at Santa Anita May 29 followed a fourth in the Grade 3 American Stakes May 6 and an eighth in the Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes April 9. He now has five wins, six seconds and two third place finishes in 26 career starts and has placed in just two of his last 10 starts overall – both of those being graded stakes wins. He tries for his second straight such graded stakes victory Sunday from gate 4 with Victor Espinoza in the irons.
Texas Ryano 15-1 – has 13 career starts for trainer Carla Gaines with four wins, two seconds and two third place finishes. He made his graded stakes debut in November and finished a disappointing eighth in the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup after a fifth in an Allowance Optional Claiming October 30 and two straight wins – the minor King Pellinore Stakes September 27 and an Allowance Optional Claiming September 5. He has two starts in 2016 – a second last time out in an Allowance Optional Claiming June 16 followed a sixth in the Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes at Santa Anita in January – both results at Santa Anita. Texas Ryano has looked OK against lesser company but has failed to place in three of his last four starts overall. He leaves from post 3 searching for his first graded stakes score with Joe Talamo in the reins.
Patentar 20-1 – French bred Simon Callaghan trainee had two wins and three third place finishes in 11 starts in Europe and has five starts in North America with OK success. Last time out was a respectable second in the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Memorial Stakes at Santa Anita May 29 which followed a good win in an Allowance Optional Claiming February 7, an eighth, a third and a seventh respectively in Allowance Optional Claiming races at Del Mar. He made a successful stakes debut last time out and produced a decent result. Patentar hopes to build on that with Alonso Quinonez in the saddle from gate 8.