7/23/2010

DEL MAR DOINGS

Well-matched seven vie for Eddie Read

A field of seven has been entered to go nine furlongs on Del Mar's turf in Sunday's $300,000 Eddie Read H. (G1), and any one of the group could find himself in the winner's circle at the conclusion of the race.

VICTOR'S CRY (Street Cry [Ire]) will be looking to add yet another Grade 1 to his resume following a head score in the Shoemaker Mile (G1) at Hollywood Park in late May. The Eoin Harty charge just got up in that one-mile event, and could enjoy the stretch-out here. Fourth in last year's Del Mar Mile H. (G2), the dark bay five-year-old broke his maiden at Del Mar in 2008 and will keep Corey Nakatani in the saddle.

The Eddie Read has proven to be the site of the ACCLAMATION (Unusual Heat)--HYADES (Aldebaran) rematch. The pair met up in the Charles Whittingham Memorial H. (G2) on June 5, with Acclamation leading every step of the way. Hyades settled for second in that 1 1/4-mile test, then cut back to nine furlongs for the American H. (G2) last out and just missed by a half-length in third. Acclamation wound up last of nine in the United Nation S. (G1) in his most recent start. Christian Santiago-Reyes has the return call on Acclamation while Hyades will get a jockey switch to Martin Garcia.

LOUP BRETON (Ire) (Anabaa) also ran in the Charles Whittingham, filling the four spot there after a close third in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (G1). He'll be making his Del Mar debut in this spot. CROWDED HOUSE (GB) (Rainbow Quest) will be making his U.S. bow in the Eddie Read and the Brian Meehan charge will be looking for his first win since taking the 2008 Racing Post Trophy (Eng-G1).

Rounding out the field will be THE USUAL Q. T. (Unusual Heat), hero of last year's Hollywood Derby (G1) and fourth in the Dubai Duty Free (UAE-G1) two back, and ENRICHED (High Brite), a 9 1/4-length allowance victor most recently.

Earlier on the card, U R ALL THAT I AM (Valid Wager) heads an overflow field of 12 distaffers in the $75,000 Osunitas S. going 8 1/2 furlongs on the grass. The four-year-old ran third in the Royal Heroine Mile S. (G2) and will face-off with that race's runner-up BURG BERG (Johannesburg) in this one. Also entered is Beverly Hills H. (G3) fourth PRINCESS HAYA (Street Cry [Ire]) and FORTUNIA (Leroidesanimaux [Brz]), second by a neck in the Ouija Board Distaff H. (G3).

Evening Jewel tops deep San Clemente

Grade 1 winner EVENING JEWEL (Northern Afleet) will use Sunday's $150,000 San Clemente H. (G2) as a tightener for the Del Mar Oaks (G1) on August 21, but the "prep" figures to be a terrific race in its own right. A strong field of 13 three-year-old fillies, including the likes of SWITCH (Quiet American), IT TIZ (Tiznow) and CRISP (El Corredor), is entered for the one-mile affair over the Jimmy Durante Turf Course at Del Mar.

The super-consistent Evening Jewel, trained by Jim Cassidy, will be making her second turf start and turning back in distance from her wire-to-wire score in the nine-furlong Honeymoon H. (G2) at Hollywood Park on May 31. The San Clemente also marks the second straight start where Evening Jewel hasn't had to contend with divisional leader Blind Luck (Pollard's Vision), who edged her by a nose in both the Las Virgenes (G1) and Kentucky Oaks (G1). Winner of the Ashland S. (G1) three back, Evening Jewel has been either first or second in nine straight races and is the 123-pound highweight on Sunday. Victor Espinoza will return to the irons.

Switch will enter on the upswing for trainer John Sadler, notching her first graded victory with a 1 1/4-length decision over Blind Luck in the June 6 Hollywood Oaks (G2), and will carry 119 pounds, including jockey Martin Garcia. Sadler will also send out the uncoupled Crisp, who defeated Blind Luck in the Las Virgenes (G1) and Evening Jewel in the Santa Ysabel (G3) earlier this season. She will carry the second-highest impost of 120 pounds and retains the services of Joel Rosario.

It Tiz is another major contender. Conditioned by Mark Glatt, the dark bay filly will bring a two-race win skein into the San Clemente, handing Crisp a 1 1/4-length setback as the 6-5 favorite in the Le Cle S. most recently. She'll carry 118 pounds and David Flores.

Providencia S. (G2) heroine CITY TO CITY (City Zip), a subpar fifth as the favorite in the American Oaks (G1) last out, is a bounce-back candidate for Jerry Hollendorfer, and Bob Baffert is responsible for the improving CRISIS OF SPIRIT (Vindication), who was beaten only 1 3/4 lengths in third when making her turf bow in the Le Cle.

Only 10 will be allowed to run, so three fillies are listed as also-eligible.

A couple of races earlier on the program, Charles Whittingham Memorial H. (G1) winner ACCLAMATION (Unusual Heat) and San Francisco S. (G2) hero BOLD CHIEFTAIN (Chief Seattle) highlight a field of eight California-breds in the $100,000 California Dreamin' Handicap S. Acclamation, who never got untracked following a rough start in the United Nations (G1) last time, is certainly eligible to turn things around in this spot, but the four-year-old colt is cross-entered to a much more lucrative prize in Saturday's Eddie Read (G1).

His defection would leave Bold Chieftain as a heavy favorite. Winner of the Sunshine Millions Classic earlier this year, the Bill Morey Jr.-trained seven-year-old has captured five of his seven starts, finishing second by a head in the May 31 Berkeley S. (G3) most recently, and is a two-time winner over the course. Other contenders in the 1 1/16-mile turf test include SWIFT WINDS (King of the Hunt) and BRUCE'S DREAM (Atticus).

from brisnet.com