Eddie Read Lures Another Strong D'Amato Quartet

Red-hot trainer Phil D'Amato has a seemingly endless supply of good turf runners at Del Mar. With four in the July 23 San Clemente Stakes (G2T), he finished one-two-three. Can he repeat that effort with another quartet in the July 31 Eddie Read Stakes (G2T)?

A second Eddie Read question involves There Goes Harvard . Trainer Michael McCarthy has entered the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) winner in both the Eddie Read and the San Diego Handicap (G2) on dirt the day before. The San Diego field includes major winners Country Grammer , Mandaloun , and Tripoli .

D'Amato has won the 1 1/8-mile Eddie Read three times, with Bowies Hero  in 2019, Hunt  in 2017, and Midnight Storm   in 2016. Unlike his four Irish-bred San Clemente runners, D'Amato has only two from Ireland in the Eddie Read: Cathkin Peak  and Hong Kong Harry . Cash Equity  comes from France, while Masteroffoxhounds , making only his second start for D'Amato, is a Kentucky-bred.

Hong Kong Harry, by Danehill  grandson Es Que Love , has the best recent form. He has won all three of his U.S. starts, including the June 19 American Stakes (G3T). Ramon Vazquez has the mount from post 9.

"He's a horse that had always trained with a lot of ability," said D'Amato. "I think gradually just bringing him along in his conditions, just building up his confidence was the key. He's got a huge heart."

Masteroffoxhounds (Juan Hernandez, post 1) won last year's San Marcos Stakes (G2T) when trained by Richard Baltas. In his only start for D'Amato, the 5-year-old son of War Front   finished third in the Shoemaker Mile Stakes (G1T), which D'Amato won with Count Again  over McCarthy-trained Smooth Like Strait . Neither Count Again nor Smooth Like Strait were nominated to the Eddie Read.

Cathkin Peak (Umberto Rispoli, post 11) is multiple graded stakes-placed and coming off a June 18 allowance optional claimer victory at Santa Anita, his first start in seven months. Cash Equity (Florent Geroux, post 2) has only started twice in this country, with a second and a win in allowance optional claiming company.

There Goes Harvard made his second career stakes attempt in the Hollywood Gold Cup and scored by a length. He had won three straight, including a one-mile allowance optional claimer on the turf. A 4-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Will Take Charge  , There Goes Harvard drew post 6 in the Eddie Read and the rail in the San Diego. Irad Ortiz Jr. rode him in the Gold Cup, while Diego Herrera piloted him in the colt's other two recent wins. McCarthy has named Herrera on There Goes Harvard in both stakes.

Beyond Brilliant , who defeated Masteroffoxhounds in the Charles Whittingham Stakes (G2), drew post 3. Victor Espinoza has the mount for trainer John Shirreffs. A 4-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Twirling Candy  , Beyond Brilliant triumphed in the Hollywood Derby (G1T) at Del Mar last fall.

Entries: Eddie Read S. (G2T)

Del Mar, Sunday, July 31, 2022, Race 9

• Grade IIT
• 1 1/8m
• Turf
• $250,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 6:07 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Masteroffoxhounds (KY)	Juan J. Hernandez	121	Philip D'Amato	8/1
2	2Cash Equity (FR)	Florent Geroux	121	Philip D'Amato	12/1
3	3Beyond Brilliant (KY)	Victor Espinoza	125	John A. Shirreffs	5/2
4	4Ecrivain (FR)	Hector Isaac Berrios	121	Richard E. Mandella	15/1
5	5Tango Tango Tango (KY)	Declan Cannon	121	Jack Sisterson	8/1
6	6There Goes Harvard (KY)	Diego A. Herrera	125	Michael W. McCarthy	4/1
7	7King Cause (KY)	Joe Bravo	121	Michael J. Maker	20/1
8	8Homer Screen (BRZ)	Drayden Van Dyke	121	Neil D. Drysdale	20/1
9	9Hong Kong Harry (IRE)	Ramon A. Vazquez	121	Philip D'Amato	7/2
10	10Tarantino (KY)	Armando Ayuso	121	Ed Moger, Jr.	15/1
11	11Cathkin Peak (IRE)	Umberto Rispoli	121	Philip D'Amato	4/1
12	12Master Piece (CHI)	Abel Cedillo	121	Michael W. McCarthy	15/1