Bowies Hero conquers extra furlong in Eddie Read Stakes

DEL MAR, Calif. – Known for his success in one-mile races in the last three years, Bowies Hero won for the first time at 1 1/8 miles on turf in Sunday’s Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes at Del Mar.

The win will not result in a career shift.

Trainer Phil D’Amato said immediately after the Eddie Read that Bowies Hero will be pointed to the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile on Aug. 18. The 5-year-old horse is considered a long-term prospect for the Breeders’ Cup Mile on Nov. 2 at Santa Anita.

In the $250,351 Eddie Read, Bowies Hero recorded his most convincing win and his seventh victory in his 19th start. The Read was Bowies Hero’s sixth career start at 1 1/8 miles.

Ridden by Flavien Prat, Bowies Hero closed from fourth in a field of six to win by 2 1/4 lengths over 9-2 Marckie’s Water, winner of the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf on May 25 at Santa Anita.

Prat had Bowies Hero in fifth place for the first six furlongs, stalking pacesetter Ritzy A. P., who set fractions of 24.38 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 48.16 for a half-mile. Bowies Hero rallied three wide entering the stretch to run past 32-1 Ritzy A. P. and Catapult, the 3-2 favorite, taking the lead with more than a furlong remaining.

“I wanted to put myself behind Catapult,” Prat said. “I had a good trip.”

Bowies Hero ($8.80) was timed in 1:46.63. He earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 98.

Trainer Phil D’Amato said he was not sure where Prat would position Bowies Hero when he studied the race.

“I couldn’t work out the race shape on paper,” he said. “He had him in a good spot.”

Marckie’s Water finished a head in front of Ritzy A. P., who was a neck in front of 2-1 Sharp Samurai. Catapult, who won the 2018 Eddie Read, faded to finish fifth, followed by Ohio, winner of the Grade 1 Kilroe Mile on March 30 at Santa Anita.

Catapult, second in the 2018 BC Mile at Churchill Downs, finished 3 1/4 lengths behind Bowies Hero.

“He’s the kind of horse that has to have some pace in front of him,” jockey Drayden Van Dyke said. “He had no pace, and we were too far forward today.”

The Eddie Read Stakes was Bowies Hero’s third start of the year, preceded by a sixth in the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile on April 27 at Golden Gate Fields and a third in the Shoemaker Mile behind Bolo and River Boyne.

“He’s getting better all the time,” D’Amato said.

Bowies Hero, who is by Artie Schiller, has earned $874,970. The Eddie Read was his sixth stakes win. The other five were at a mile, including the Grade 1 Kilroe Mile in March 2018.