Cabo Spirit tries for Eddie Read upset
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Cabo Spirit, who starts in Sunday’s Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes at Del Mar, is known for the longevity of his career, his occasional stakes wins, and his role as a thief.
Cabo Spirit has been known to steal a race as a pacesetter, a capacity trainer George Papaprodromou hopes will occur in the $250,000 Eddie Read Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf.
In the last two years, Cabo Spirit has had 18 starts and has led throughout to win three times, all in graded stakes. The most recent instance was the Grade 3 San Gabriel Stakes at 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita last December, his last win.
Cabo Spirit, who races for Rustin Kretz, is winless in three starts this year. He finished third in an allowance race at 1 1/8 miles on turf on April 3 at Santa Anita in his last start.
“Hopefully, the layoff will freshen him,” Papaprodromou said. “He’s coming into the race in good shape.”
Even when he does not win on the lead, Cabo Spirit can still be a factor. In two starts at Del Mar last summer, Cabo Spirit set the pace in the Read and finished second by a length to Formidable Man. In the Del Mar Mile, Formidable Man led but finished third by 1 1/2 lengths to Formidable Man.
Cabo Spirit is part of a field of nine in Sunday’s Read Stakes and will be ridden by Mike Smith, who has been aboard for nine of the 7-year-old gelding’s last 11 starts, including the 2025 San Gabriel.
Cabo Spirit may not face considerable pressure early in the Read but must hold off tough rivals such as the multiple stakes winners Formidable Man, Almendares, and Gold Phoenix, who won the 2023 Read.
Papaprodromou is eager for a win at Del Mar. Through Thursday, the fourth day of the summer meeting, he has one win from 17 runners, with one second and seven third-place finishes.
“We’re getting close,” he said.
Papaprodromou had five entries Friday, three on Saturday, and two on Sunday.
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