Catapult Favored in Eddie Read Defense Attempt

Woodford Racing's Catapult, whose victory in the Eddie Read Stakes (G2T) secured the 2018 meet title for top grass horse, will take on five rivals in this year's edition July 21 at Del Mar.

The 6-year-old son of Kitten's Joy  trained by John Sadler is winless in three starts this year but is 2-for-2 on the Del Mar turf and has been made the morning-line favorite at odds of 2-1 for the nine-furlong, $250,000 event.

"He's trained very well for it, and we're excited about having him back down here and his chances in the race," Sadler said Thursday.

Sadler, a major force at Del Mar in recent years, got off to a fine start with a victory by Irish import Jasikan in the Runhappy Oceanside Stakes on the opening day of the program. He'll send out heavily favored Catalina Cruiser in Saturday's San Diego Handicap (G2), the major prep for the Aug. 17 $1 million TVG Pacific Classic Stakes (G1).

Catapult followed the Eddie Read with a victory in the Del Mar Mile Handicap (G2T) at the summer meeting and ended his 2018 campaign with a runner-up finish to Expert Eye in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) at Churchill Downs, which raised his earnings for the year to $623,800.

He began this year's season with a trip to Gulfstream Park for the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes (G1T), finishing fourth over a yielding course. Back in California, the dark bay lost by a nose to Eddie Read entrant Ohio in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes (G1T) at Santa Anita Park on firm turf.

Earnings of $576,975 from three 2019 starts increased Catapult's career total to more than $1.5 million.

Brazilian-bred Ohio has made six of his past seven starts at a mile for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Bruce Treitman. The Michael McCarthy trainee figures to be on the pace under Ruben Fuentes while breaking from the rail.

Second choice on the morning line at 5-2 is 5-year-old Sharp Samurai, who is also winless on the year in two starts but is also well versed at Del Mar, missing by a neck to Catapult a year ago and scoring in the 2017 La Jolla Handicap (G3T) and Del Mar Derby (G2T). The son of First Samurai  races for Red Baron's Barn, Rancho Temescal, and trainer Mark Glatt.

Little Red Feather Racing and Norman Tavares' Marckie's Water, who came from sixth to win the May 25 Charles Whittingham Stakes (G2T) at Santa Anita, is the program co-third choice at 7-2 along with Agave Racing Stable, ERJ Racing, Madaket Stables, and Rockin Robin Racing Stable's Bowies Hero. The son of Artie Schiller was a close-up fourth in last year's Eddie Read.

Entries: Eddie Read S. (G2T)

Del Mar, Sunday, July 21, 2019, Race 4

• Grade IIT
• 1 1/8m
• Turf
• $250,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 3:36 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Ohio (BRZ)	Ruben Fuentes	124	Michael W. McCarthy	6/1
2	2Ritzy A. P. (KY)	Martin Garcia	120	Dan Blacker	15/1
3	3Catapult (KY)	Drayden Van Dyke	120	John W. Sadler	2/1
4	4Sharp Samurai (KY)	Victor Espinoza	120	Mark Glatt	5/2
5	5Marckie's Water (CA)	Tiago Josue Pereira	122	Richard Baltas	7/2
6	6Bowies Hero (KY)	Flavien Prat	122	Philip D'Amato	7/2