Eddie D. Stakes Split Into Divisions

With the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (gr. IT) on the 6 1/2-furlong downhill course at Santa Anita Park coming up in early November, plenty of connections with top turf sprinters see the wisdom in prepping on the unique course in the $100,000 Eddie D. Stakes (gr. IIIT) Friday, Sept. 30.

With so many connections on the same page, this year's Eddie D. Stakes was split into two divisions, to be contested as the sixth and ninth races on Friday's autumn meet opening day card. Each division lists 11 horses in the fields with two also-eligibles.

A winner of five turf sprints this year, Lady Shipman will try the hillside course for the first time in the race's first division. The daughter of Midshipman   has excelled in five- to six-furlong turf sprints, including a runner-up finish in last year's Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (gr. IT) at Keeneland. But this will be her first try on the downhill course which also features a crossover of the main track as the field turns for home.

Trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, Ranlo Investments' Lady Shipman drew the rail as she makes her first start since a one-length victory in the Turf Amazon Stakes Sept. 5 at Parx Racing.

In the second division, Guns Loaded will try to continue to thrive on the downhill. The 5-year-old D'wildcat gelding registered back-to-back clear stakes victories on the course earlier this year, taking the Joe Hernandez and the San Simeon (gr. IIIT) stakes in late February and early April.

Trainer Doug O'Neill hopes a return to the hillside course helps Guns Loaded turn things around as he has finished off the board in his two previous starts, grade III turf sprints at Churchill Downs and Belmont Park.

Phil D'Amato, in pursuit of his third consecutive Southern California training title having won Santa Anita's Summer Meet and the recent Del Mar crown, has Hunt in the first division and Toowindytohaulrox in the second division.

"Hunt's doing really well," D'Amato said of the 4-year-old Irish-bred gelding owned by Michael House. "We've been pointing to this race for a couple months, he's 4-for-5 down the hill and he'll be ready to go.

"Toowindy, he likes this down the hill configuration also. He comes from way out of it, so if there's a lot of speed in there, he'll have a good shot. He's also doing well."

The Eddie D. is named for retired Hall of Fame rider Eddie Delahoussaye, who will be on hand to present trophies to the winning connections.

"I don't know him that well," D'Amato said of the ever-popular Cajun, who turned 65 this month. "But I watched him for a long time growing up and he was one of my favorite riders. I don't think anybody could rally like he did.



"He'd cut the turn coming into the stretch, angle out and nail them all. I've seen that move so many times. Receiving the winning trophy from him would be special."