Eddie Read Preview: Midnight Storm Returns As Favorite
Last year, when Midnight Storm helped kickoff opening weekend of Del Mar’s 2015 Summer racing season, he was sent off as the 6 to 5 favorite in the Eddie Read off a second place finish in the G1 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita.
He finished fifth beaten 10 lengths that day. The Eddie Read was a G1 event in 2015.
For 2016, the Eddie Read has been downgraded to a G2 and Midnight Storm will enter the starting gate as the 5 to 2 morning line favorite.
In last year’s Shoemaker he earned a 104 Beyer but regressed in the Eddie Read with an 86.
[poll id=”29″]
Midnight Storm 3 for 4 at Del Mar
To his advantage he’s 3 for 4 at Del Mar on the lawn and comes in fresh off a nearly 6 week layoff and a wire-to-wire win in this year’s Shoemaker Mile where he stepped it up a notch getting a 110 for the effort.
Here’s the full field by post position with jockey and morning line odds: #1 – Asleyluvssugar (Gary Stevens, 6-1), #2 Flamboyant (Flavien Prat, 9-2), #3 Texas Ryano (Joe Talamo, 15-1), #4 Si Sage (Victor Espinoza, 12-1), #5 Midnight Storm (Rafael Bejarano, 5-2), #6 Finnegan’s Wake (Tyler Baze, 6-1), #7 Ohio (Brice Blanc, 8-1), #8 Patentar (Alex Quinonez, 20-1), #9 Bolo (Mike Smith, 3-1).
Likely winners:
#9 Bolo – Broke his maiden here in ’14 on the lawn as a two year old with Smith aboard in the second start of his career. Has been facing graded company including a 12th place finish in ’15 Kentucky Derby vs. American Pharoah but remember this is a turf horse. Finished 10th most recently at 5 to 1 in the G1 Turf Classic at Churchill when steadied and troubled. Returns to Del Mar for first time since maiden win as second choice. Low percentage trainer of graded stakes winners but there’s not much in here.
#5 Midnight Storm – Was 7th at 16 to 1 in G1 Turf Classic before Shoemaker win in last. Led for most of the 1 1/8 miles before ‘caving’ under pressure, which he’ll have in here from Si Sage and Texas Ryano – the other Gaines runner.
#7 Ohio – At 8-1 it’s anybody’s guess as he returns to the lawn where he is 2 for 3 at Santa Anita since coming to America. He’ll have master turf rider Blanc aboard for what will be his first race beyond 1 mile. He only has $95,000 in purse earnings from six wins in 10 starts but he fits with these for trainer Lobo.
