How to bet the 2024 Eddie Read Stakes

A fantastic field of nine will go 1 1/8 miles on the Del Mar lawn in Sunday’s $250,000 Eddie Read S. (G2). 

Conditioner Phil D’Amato has a trio of prime contenders for the turf test, including defending champ #3 Gold Phoenix, who is 3-for-4 on the surface. Despite his affinity for the course, he’s a bit too inconsistent for me in a field with this depth. 

Eddie Read Wagers

• $30 win #9 Johannes ($30)
• $5 exacta key box 9 with 4,7 ($20)

I have been super impressed with the pair of performances put in this season by #9 Johannes for conditioner Tim Yakteen, and I will give him the edge in this one. 

Sired by Nyquist, the four-year-old colt has won in five of his six prior runs on the sod, led by a recent triumph in the Shoemaker Mile (G1) at Santa Anita. The homebred has upped his game as a four-year-old, and while he has yet to run beyond 1 1/16 miles, I have confidence that nine panels is well within him. 

Johannes has never run on the local green, which is always a slight concern, although his two strong five-furlong drills in advance of Sunday on the main oval tells me that he is doing well at this venue. 

In addition to his abundance of talent, the four-year-old has a tactical edge on many of his late-running foes. He will track the pace established by the runner to his inside while in the second flight early on, prior to getting the jump turning for home. Regular rider Umberto Rispoli retains the mount atop the leading selection.

I have taken Bob Baffert’s #7 Du Jour too lightly on numerous occasions and on this day will give him the respect that he deserves. 

The Grade-1 winning Temple City gelding owns a Grade 2 victory over this sod and comes off a solid third-place result in the Shoemaker during his second run of the season. He is essentially a miler, but the bay is full of class and rates well in the chances for an exotic beneath Juan Hernandez. 

I’m not sure what to think of multiple Grade 2 winner #4 Easter adding blinkers, but I’ll trust D’Amato and include the talented French-bred gelding. The Exosphere six-year-old was an excellent victor of the Seabiscuit (G2) on the surface in November and will be a major factor if he can repeat that 100 Brisnet speed rating. Antonio Fresu will be on board.