United rebounds big with second Eddie Read win
United powered through the lane under Flavien Prat to get up by a neck at the finish of a sparkling renewal of the Grade 2, $251,000 Eddie Read Stakes Saturday afternoon at Del Mar.
The 6-year-old gelding by Giant’s Causeway won the Eddie Read last year by a half-length and pulled it off again with a stellar performance under his regular rider and for the barn of his longtime trainer, Hall of Famer Richard Mandella.
Owned by LNJ Foxwoods, United ran the nine furlongs on turf in 1:49.49 and bested race-favorite Smooth Like Straight after a rugged testing in the lane. The second-place finisher, who races for Cannon Thoroughbreds, had a length on third-place finisher Count Again.
“I could tell the fractions were slow; I could feel it," Prat said. "But my horse was travelling well and he was comfortable. I knew his last race wasn’t his real race and I felt he’d run better today. The only question was being able to get out. He did and ran well through the lane. He’s back.”
United paid $8.60.
United picked up a check for $150,000 for his work, which pushed his career earnings to $1,675,549. It was his ninth victory in his 20th lifetime start. Most recently, United disappointed when never threatening as the odds-on favorite in the May 29 Charles Whittingham Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita.
“He ran well and I’m very proud of him," Mandella said. "He was coming off a terrible race, I’ve never had him run that bad. We worried and watched and did every test you can do on him and we found a bruise under his shoe two weeks old. It didn’t seem like that big a deal, but it must have been."
Mandella added the $300,000 Del Mar Handicap going 1 3/8 miles on Aug. 21 would be the next target for United.