How to bet the 2023 Eddie Read Stakes

Conditioner Phil D’Amato has four of the nine entered for the $250,000 Eddie Read S. (G2) at Del Mar on Sunday. The 1 1/8-mile turf test features a competitive group in a good betting tilt, and I will try to upend the D’Amato quartet in the event.

The Leonard Powell-trained #5 Dicey Mo Chara was a Grade 2 winner the last time that he raced at nine furlongs and I like his chances to deliver a big performance at a distance that I feel might be his best one. The gelded five-year-old is a dual winner at Del Mar and is in solid form with a trio of positive runs leading up to this, including a third-place effort in the San Luis Rey (G3) at 1 1/2 miles last time out.

Dicey Mo Chara has aimed for this race for some time and shows a nice string of morning drills in advance of Sunday for a conditioner off to a fast start at the Del Mar meeting. The Adaay five-year-old has enough tactical foot to stay in range early on, and his late burst is more pronounced at this trip, as well. West Coast wizard Juan Hernandez will be in the stirrups.

D’Amato will have a major say in the outcome with his contenders, including multiple Grade 1 victor #9 Count Again. The eight-year-old gelding has been off for more than one year, but his connections are showing a lot of confidence by entering him in this demanding comeback race. This bay son of Awesome Again has done most of his best work at eight panels, but he was a close third in the contest in 2021, and I feel that he is sitting on a big performance off the shelf with Umberto Rispoli in the silks.

Kilroe S. (G1) star #2 Gold Phoenix has faced top company in six straight and wouldn’t be a surprise in the event with Hector Berrios in the stirrups. The Belardo five-year-old is a Grade 2 winner on the oval and the D’Amato pupil comes in fresh with a nice string of morning moves, as well. The chestnut will save ground before being asked for his best turning for home at a decent number.

Eddie Read Wagers

$10 win/place/show: #5 Dicey Mo Chara ($30)

$5 exacta key box: 5 with 2,9 ($20)

$3 exacta box: 2,5,9 ($18)