Tom's Tribute provides emotional win in Eddie Read

DEL MAR, Calif. – Jim Cassidy stood on the Del Mar track, awaiting the return of Tom’s Tribute after his victory in the Grade 1 Eddie Read Handicap on Sunday at Del Mar, trying hard to hold himself together.

“You have no idea how much this means to me,” he said. “This nearly brought me to tears.”

Cassidy trained for years for Tom Braly, who died in 2010. His widow, Marilyn, named Tom’s Tribute in honor of her late husband. The Eddie Read was both an emotional catharsis for Cassidy and Marilyn Brady, and a deserved Grade 1 win for Tom’s Tribute, who has been battling the best middle-distance grass runners on this circuit for two years.

Tom’s Tribute ($6.60) received an ideal trip from jockey Mike Smith, who tucked him into second place early as Horizontalyspeakin set off for the lead in the 1 1/8-mile grass race. Tom’s Tribute edged closer on the far turn after six furlongs in 1:10.30, then kicked clear entering the lane and safely held off favored Summer Front to win by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:46.01

Spring Up was third, another length behind Summer Front, and was followed, in order, by Horizontalyspeakin, Unbridled Command, and Cogito.

“Today was probably the most professional he’s ever run,” Cassidy said.

Tom’s Tribute, 4, has won 5 of 12 starts. He most recently had finished in a dead heat for third, just behind Summer Front, in the Shoemaker Mile, which was won by Obviously.

Obviously is awaiting the Del Mar Mile next month. That originally was where Tom’s Tribute was headed, but then Cassidy said he “changed his mind.”

Tom’s Tribute is owned by the Braly Family Trust. Tom Braly died four years ago from cancer at the age of 72, less than two weeks after his filly Evening Jewel won the Del Mar Oaks.

Marilyn Braly, represented by agent Gary Young, bought a colt by Lion Heart as a 2-year-old in training in 2012, and when Young gave her glowing reviews about the colt, she decided to name him after Tom.

The Eddie Read win was worth $180,000 from a gross purse of $300,250. But to those most closely associated with Tom's Tribute, it meant a whole lot more.