Del Mar: Fly Lexis Fly to try Eddie Read

DEL MAR, Calif. - Fly Lexis Fly, winner of two Group 1 races in Peru in 2011 but winless in six starts in this country, was supplemented for $3,000 on Wednesday to Saturday’s $300,000 Eddie Read Stakes.

Trained by Peter Miller for Licha Dona, Fly Lexis Fly was third in an allowance race at seven furlongs at Hollywood Park on June 14, finishing 10 3/4 lengths behind 2012 Grade 1 winner Paynter.

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Miller said on Wednesday that the Grade 1 Eddie Read Stakes was coming up with a modest field, making it an attractive spot.

“It looks like a weak Grade 1, a light field and a big purse,” Miller said.

Fly Lexis Fly was trained by Neil Drysdale from July 2012 until February of this year, a span of five races highlighted by a second in the Grade 2 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs last September.

The Read Stakes is run at 1 1/8 miles on turf, and will be Fly Lexis Fly’s first start on the surface.

“He breezed well on it, but you don’t know,” Miller said.

The Read has a projected field of 10, including Barocci, Cogito, Fed Biz, Jeranimo, Lucayan, Middie, Slim Shadey, Sofast, and Vagabond Shoes.

Sofast, a 4-year-old colt by Rock of Gibraltar, arrived from France earlier this month. Now trained by Gary Mandella, Sofast was a Group 3 winner in 2011 and was third in the Group 2 Prix de Muguet in France in May.