The Eddie Read Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds and older over a distance of one and one-eighth miles on the turf course scheduled annually in late July or early August at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. The event currently carries a purse of $250,000.

History

The inaugural running of the event was on 25 August 1974 as the Eddie Read Handicap with Elmendorf Farm's My Old Friend winning as the 9-1 longshot winning by length in a time of 1:49. The event was named in honor of William E. (Eddie) Read who served as the publicity directory at Del Mar and died 28 May 1973.

In 1980 the event was upgrade by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to Grade III. Two years later the event upgraded once more to Grade II. With the stake money increasing yearly and the quality of the entrants running the race performing well in high level events the event was upgraded to the highest classification of Grade I in 1988.

In the Breeders' Cup era the event became a logical preparatory race for both the Breeders' Cup Mile and Breeders' Cup Turf. The 1993 winner of the event, the French-bred Kotashaan, went on to win the Breeders' Cup Turf and later was voted to win US Champion Male Turf Horse and US Horse of the Year honors.

In 2006 the Irish-bred Aragorn set a new stakes and track record of 1:44.79 winning by four lengths as a 3-2 favorite.

In 2009 the conditions of the event were changed from handicap to stakes allowance and the name of the event was modified to the Eddie Read Stakes.

In 2016 the event was downgraded to Grade II.

Records Speed record: 1:44.79 - Aragorn (2006) (new race and course record)

Margins: 5 lengths - Special Ring (2003)

Most wins: 2 - United (2020, 2021) 2 - Wickerr (1981, 1982) 2 - Fastness (1995, 1996) 2 - Special Ring (2003, 2004) 2 - Acclamation (2011, 2012) 2 - Gold Phoenix (IRE) (2023, 2026)

Most wins by an owner: 3 - Edmund A. Gann (1981, 1982, 1986)

Most wins by a jockey: 5 - Corey Nakatani (1994, 1996, 2002, 2006, 2009)

Most wins by a trainer: 7 - Robert J. Frankel (1977, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1989, 1992, 1997)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefEddie Read Stakes2026Gold Phoenix (IRE)8Hector Issac BerriosPhilip D'AmatoAgave Racing Stable, Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables & Marsha Naify miles1:47.73$250,000II2025 Formidable Man 4Umberto RispoliMichael McCarthySuzanne & William K. Warren Jr. miles1:48.55$250,500II2024Johannes 4Umberto RispoliTim Yakteen Cuyathy miles1:47.88$252,000II2023Gold Phoenix (IRE) 5Hector BerriosPhilip D'AmatoLittle Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables & Marsha Naify miles1:48.62$252,000II2022Master Piece (CHI) 6Abel CedilloMichael McCarthyFernando Diaz-Valdes, Baalbek Corp. & Don Alberto Stable miles1:46.25$252,500II2021United 6Flavien PratRichard E. MandellaLNJ Foxwoods miles1:49.49$251,000II2020United 5Flavien PratRichard E. MandellaLNJ Foxwoods miles1:46.71$200,500II2019Bowies Hero5Flavien PratPhilip D'AmatoAgave Racing Stable, ERJ Racing, Madaket Stables & Rockin Robin Racing Stable miles1:46.63$250,351II2018Catapult5John W. SadlerWoodford Racing LLC miles1:46.07$251,725II2017Hunt (IRE)5Flavien PratPhilip D'AmatoMichael House miles1:47.62$250,690II2016Midnight Storm5Rafael BejaranoPhilip D'AmatoA Venneri Racing & Little Red Feather Racing miles1:47.88$251,380II2015Gabriel Charles5Mike E. SmithJeff MullinsSam Britt & Michael House miles1:48.13$400,500I2014Tom's Tribute4Mike E. SmithJames M. CassidyBraly Family Trust miles1:46:01$300,250I2013Jeranimo7Rafael BejaranoMichael PenderRobert V. LaPenta & Robert J. Wright miles1:45.80$300,000I2012Acclamation 6Pat ValenzuelaDonald WarrenPeter & Mary Hilvers, Ellwood W. & Judy Johnston miles1:46.99$300,000I2011Acclamation 5Joel RosarioDonald WarrenPeter & Mary Hilvers, Ellwood W. & Judy Johnston miles1:46.99$300,000I2010The Usual Q. T.4Victor EspinozaJames M. CassidyDon Van Racing, Michael Nentwig, George Saadeh & Jeffrey Byer miles1:47.28$300,000I2009Global Hunter (ARG)6Corey NakataniA. C. AvilaL-Bo Racing & Monte Pyle miles1:46.24$350,000IEddie Read Handicap 2008Monzante4Rafael BejaranoMike R. MitchellScott Anastasi, Jay & Gretchen Manoogian miles1:46.53$400,000I2007After Market4Alex O. SolisJohn ShirreffsPam & Martin Wygod miles1:47.36$400,000I2006Aragorn (IRE)4Corey NakataniNeil D. DrysdaleBallygallon Stud miles1:44.79$400,000I2005Sweet Return (GB)5Alex O. SolisRon McAnallyRed Oak Stable miles1:46.53$400,000I2004§ Special Ring7Victor EspinozaJulio C. CananiPrestonwood Farm miles1:45.90$400,000I2003Special Ring6David R. FloresJulio C. CananiPrestonwood Farm miles1:45.87$400,000I2002Sarafan5Corey NakataniNeil D. DrysdaleGary A. Tanaka miles1:46.77$400,000I2001Redattore (BRZ)6Alex O. SolisRichard E. MandellaLuis Alfredo Taunay miles1:47.16$400,000I2000Ladies Din5Kent J. DesormeauxJulio C. CananiTerrence J. Lanni & Bernard C. Schiappa miles1:48.64$400,000I1999Joe Who (BRZ)6Chris AntleyBob BaffertJames E. Helzer miles1:48.75$400,000I1998Subordination 4David R. FloresGary SciaccaKlaravich Stables miles1:47.49$300,000I1997Expelled5Julio A. GarciaRobert J. FrankelJuddmonte Farms miles1:48.40$300,000I1996Fastness (IRE)6Corey NakataniJenine Sahadi Evergreen Farm miles1:47.05$313,000I1995Fastness (IRE)5Gary L. StevensJenine Sahadi Evergreen Farm miles1:48.42$317,600I19946Corey NakataniRichard J. Cross John E. Mulhern miles1:48.83$322,250I1993Kotashaan (FR)5Kent J. DesormeauxRichard E. MandellaLa Presle Farm miles1:48.45$318,750I1992§ Marquetry5David R. FloresRobert J. FrankelJuddmonte Farms, Robert J. Frankel Dale & Morley Engelson miles1:47.20$322,250I1991Tight Spot4Laffit Pincay Jr.Ron McAnallyVHW Stable, Frank Whitham, Frank Anderson & Rick Corradini miles1:47.32$323,500I1990Fly Till Dawn4Rafael Q. MezaDarrell ViennaJosephine Gleis miles1:48.20$270,250I1989Saratoga Passage4Eddie DelahoussayeRobert J. FrankelSaratoga I Stable miles1:49.00$275,250I1988Deputy Governor4Eddie DelahoussayeNeil D. DrysdaleUniversal Stable miles1:48.80$289,000I1987Sharrood4Laffit Pincay Jr.John GosdenMaktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum miles1:48.00$223,200II1986Al Mamoon5Pat ValenzuelaRobert J. FrankelBertram R. Firestone & Edmund A. Gann miles1:46.60$180,900II1985Tsunami Slew4Gary L. StevensEdwin J. GregsonRoyal Lines (Lessee) miles1:46.80$186,550II1984Ten Below5Laffit Pincay Jr.Ron McAnallyViola Sommer miles1:48.20$165,950II1983Prince Spellbound4Chris LamanceLester HoltWilliam L. Pease miles1:48.80$175,500II1982Wickerr7Robert J. FrankelEdmund A. Gann miles1:48.40$162,500II1981Wickerr6Chris McCarronRobert J. FrankelEdmund A. Gann miles1:49.80$137,000III1980Go West Young Man5Eddie DelahoussayeMary Lou TuckWild Plum Farm miles1:47.60$109,200III1979Good Lord (NZ)8Bill ShoemakerMichael L. Hines miles1:49.20$69,250 1978Effervescing 5Laffit Pincay Jr.D. Wayne LukasMel Haley & Albert Yank miles1:48.60$55,550 1977No Turning4Fernando ToroRobert J. FrankelMartin Ritt miles1:48.80$54,900 1976Branford Court6Rudy CampasGene Cleveland Cardiff Stock Farm miles1:48.40$44,150 1975 Blue Times 4Jerry Lambert Aaron U. Jones miles1:49.20$46,2001974My Old Friend5Antonio L. Diaz Vincent Clyne Elmendorf Farm miles1:49.20$33,400

Notes:

§ Ran as an entry

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

External links 2020 Del Mar Media Guide

References