Bettors may feel a sense of déjà vu when trying to make their selections for the July 27 Eddie Read Stakes (G2T). Five of the eight starters have a history with the 1 1/8-mile Del Mar turf race, three of them having run in it the past two years and two making their second appearances.
Three 4-year-old new shooters will mix it up, but with so much experience, the veterans could be a tough bunch to overcome.
Gold Phoenix and Balnikhov between them have a first, second, and third in the Read. They also hail from the barn of trainer Phil D'Amato, a four-time Read winner. D'Amato's most recent victory came with Gold Phoenix in 2023.
Last year, Gold Phoenix finished seventh in the Read after taking the Charlie Whittingham Stakes (G2T) in May, but it set him up to take the Del Mar Handicap (G2T) a month later. While he hasn't won in four subsequent starts, the 7-year-old usually runs well and finished fourth in the Nov. 2 Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) and third in the March 22 San Luis Rey Stakes (G3T). Kyle Frey won the Del Mar Handicap and Charles Whittingham aboard Gold Phoenix and will ride again from post 5.
Balnikhov, a 6-year-old, ran second in the 2023 Read and third last year. A four-time stakes winner at four different tracks across the country, Balnikhov gets the services of Kazushi Kimura from post 2.
Formidable Man, one of the 4-year-olds, is a perfect 4-for-4 at Del Mar and is likely best suited to overcome any experience bias under regular pilot Umberto Rispoli. Last year at the track for Rispoli and trainer Michael McCarthy, Formidable Man won the Oceanside Stakes, Del Mar Derby (G2T), and Hollywood Derby (G1T). In three subsequent starts, he set the pace in the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes (G1T) at Gulfstream Park and faded to last, returned to California to capture the Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes (G1T), and ran fourth in the Shoemaker Mile Stakes (G1T).
Four-year-old Atitlan won the Whittingham and San Luis Rey, the latter by two lengths, both times under jockey Hector Berrios. He came from far back and wide when fifth in the Shoemaker without Berrios aboard. Trainer John Sherriffs reunites the jockey and colt for the Read, and they drew post 3.
Stay Hot rounds out the 4-year-olds, hailing from the barn of Peter Eurton and to be ridden by Antonio Fresu from post 6. He is 2-for-6 at Del Mar, having won the 2023 Cecil B. DeMille Stakes (G3T) and 2024 La Jolla Handicap. Most recently, Stay Hot took the June 28 Texas Turf Classic Stakes at Lone Star Park.
Dicey Mo Chara, a 7-year-old, and 6-year-olds Cabo Spirit and Balladeer have competed in previous renditions of the Read. Dicey Mo Chara sports the best finish. Following an unplaced effort in 2023, he ran second to Johannes last year. Two starts back Dicey Mo Chara ran third in the Whittingham, and trainer Leonard Powell has named Juan Hernandez to ride from the rail.
Del Mar, Sunday, July 27, 2025, Race 9Entries: Eddie Read S. (G2T)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Dicey Mo Chara (GB) Juan J. Hernandez 121 Leonard Powell 12/1 2 2Balnikhov (IRE) Kazushi Kimura 121 Philip D'Amato 10/1 3 3Atitlan (KY) Hector Isaac Berrios 123 John A. Shirreffs 4/1 4 4Formidable Man (KY) Umberto Rispoli 125 Michael W. McCarthy 5/2 5 5Gold Phoenix (IRE) Kyle Frey 121 Philip D'Amato 3/1 6 6Stay Hot (KY) Antonio Fresu 121 Peter Eurton 6/1 7 7Cabo Spirit (KY) Mike E. Smith 121 George Papaprodromou 5/1 8 8Balladeer (KY) Abel Cedillo 121 George Papaprodromou 20/1
