Del Mar: Caracortado pointed for unique double

Shigeki Kikkawa

Caracortado may try for both the Eddie Read on Saturday and the Pacific Classic on Aug. 28.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Although he has developed into one of the elite older horses on this circuit, Caracortado never has raced at Del Mar, but he will be aiming high this summer. On Saturday, Caracortado is scheduled to run in the Grade 1, $300,000 Eddie Read Stakes on the turf, and later this meet, Mike Machowsky, his trainer and co-owner, wants to shoot for the season’s biggest prize, the Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic on Aug. 28.

The Eddie Read came into being in 1974, the 1 1/4-mile Pacific Classic in 1991, and in the 20 years they have coexisted, no horse has won both races. Awesome Gem has come closest, finishing second in both. Caracortado has the talent to pull off the sweep. He comes off a second-place finish in the Shoemaker Mile on turf, and he won two stakes on Santa Anita’s synthetic Pro-Ride surface before it was thrown in the dumpster.

“He’s always trained good on this track, and he worked great here the other day,” Machowsky said of Caracortado’s five-furlong move in 59.60 seconds on the main track on Saturday.

“Coming back three weeks after the Shoemaker Mile isn’t ideal,” Machowsky added, “but he’ll get a little time after this race to get ready for the Pacific Classic.”

The Read, at 1 1/8 miles on turf, is the first Grade 1 race of the meet. Joe Talamo, who has been aboard Caracortado for his last seven starts, has the mount. Talamo begins a three-day suspension on Sunday, the result of his mount Maestro being disqualified on July 10 at Hollywood Park.

Also expected for the Read are Acclamation – who was scratched from Sunday’s Sunset Handicap at Hollywood Park – as well as Celtic Princess, Goldwaki, Jeranimo, Kid Edward, Smart Bid, and Victor’s Cry.