United rebounds with gutsy performance to defeat Smooth Like Strait in Eddie Read
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DEL MAR, Calif. - United won the sixth stakes of his remarkable career with a determined stretch run in Saturday’s Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Del Mar, the second consecutive year the 6-year-old gelding won the Read, one of the track’s leading turf races.
The win came seven weeks after United finished last of four as the 3-10 favorite in the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes at Santa Anita. A few weeks after the Whittingham, trainer Richard Mandella determined United had a tender foot that could have affected his performance.
There was no mishap in the $251,000 Eddie Read Stakes, prompting a one-word response from Mandella when he reflected on the win.
“Relief,” Mandella said.
Ridden by Flavien Prat, United ($8.60) closed from fifth in the final three furlongs to catch a game rival in even-money favorite Smooth Like Strait, who led by a length with a furlong remaining. United, who bested Smooth Like Strait by a neck, completed the 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.49 and was given a 100 Beyer Speed Figure.
United raced between 22-1 Vintage Print and 24-1 Restrainedvengence to the middle of the turn when Prat moved his mount into a three-wide position in pursuit of Smooth Like Strait. United needed the entire stretch to reach the front.
“Flavien was forced to stay where he was,” Mandella said. “It seems like he had a lot of horse.”
Smooth Like Strait was favored on the strength of a win in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita on May 31. A six-time stakes winner for trainer Michael McCarthy, Smooth Like Strait was well placed throughout, stalking pacesetter Award Winner through slow early fractions of 25.19 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 49.43 for a half-mile.
“I thought he was in a good spot,” McCarthy said. “He came running. Advantage to the other horse at a mile and an eighth.”
Count Again, fourth in the Grade 1 Old Forester Turf Classic at Churchill Downs on May 1, closed from last to finish third, beaten 1 1/4 lengths as the 4-1 third choice.
Vintage Print finished fourth, followed by Award Winner, Restrainedvengence, and Say the Word.
United, the second choice in the Eddie Read, began his 2021 season with a win in the Grade 3 San Luis Rey Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on turf at Santa Anita in March. Owned by Larry, Nancy, and Jaime Roth’s LNJ Foxwoods Stable, United has won 9 of 20 starts and earned $1,675,549.
Mandella has mentioned the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on turf on Aug. 21 as a goal for United later this summer.