2012 Eddie Read Stakes Day

Pat Valenzuela celebrates aboard Acclamation after winning the 2012 Eddie Read Stakes

The highlight race of opening weekend at Del Mar is the $300,000 Eddie Read Stakes (G1) run on Saturday at Del Mar. The 20,640 fans at the oceanside track enjoyed sunny skies and temperatures in the low 80's. Just five older horses went to post in this 1 1/8 mile trip over the Jimmy Durante Turf Course, with defending champion Acclamation sent off as the 1-2 favorite, winner of his last 6 starts including the Charlie Whittingham Handicap (G1) last out at Hollywood Park. In to challenge him included 5-2 second choice Slim Shadey, fifth in the United Nations (G1) at Monmouth after finishing second in the Whittingham, and 6-1 third choice Casino Host, off a seventh place finish in the Colonial Turf Cup at Colonial Downs.

Acclamation leads on the outside in the stretch

Jockey Patrick Valenzuela sent Acclamation to the lead first time past the stands and he set easy fractions of 24.97, 49.00, and 1:12.57 over the firm course, while stalked by Slim Shadey a length behind. Entering the stretch, Slim Shadey tired allowing Accalamation to open up a 4 length lead through 1 mile in 1:35.45. 12-1 Interaction, fourth early, put in a strong late rally but Accalamation cruised past the post 2 3/4 lengths ahead in 1:46.86. It was another 2 1/4 lengths back to Casino Host third.

Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show 3 Acclamation Valenzuela 3.00 2.60 2.10 2 Interaction Blanc 5.40 3.00 4 Casino Host Talamo 2.80 Winning Time: 1:46.86 $1 Exacta 3-2 6.70 $1 Trifecta 3-2-4 23.60 Results Chart

Left: Acclamation in the winner's circle. Winning jockey Patrick Valenzuela said, "I've been lucky enough to ride some very good horses, champions, like Sunday Silence and Arazi and Best Pal. And this horse is right there with them. No doubt about it. He fits. Any horse that runs the way he does, making all the pace himself, then comes home the way he did is a really good horse. He knows what he's doing out there. He knew that (Slim Shadey) came up near us before I did. He pinned his ears and said 'It's time to go.' This horse does it all. On turf. On dirt. On Polytrack. He can do it all. He is just amazing."

Right: Acclamation in the paddock before the race. Winning trainer Don Warren said, "I think he is the best turf horse in the country at a 1 1/8 or more, don't you? Has anybody beaten him at it yet? Until they do, he's the best turf horse in the country. He's just developed into a wonderful horse. P. Val is always going to let 'em run out of there. P. Val used good judgment, got the 1/4 in :24 and the 1/2 in :49. At that point, I thought that unless there was something seriously wrong he was going to win. He goes that slow for a half-mile, then he starts picking it up and he loses them in his wake. We'll be looking at (the Pacific Classic)."

Left: Second place finisher Interaction in the paddock before the race. Jockey Brice Blanc said, "It was a good race for him. He's a good horse. And he wants farther. There's little doubt about that. The winner is very good, of course, but I know my horse wants to run farther."

Right: Third place finisher Casino Host in the post parade. Jockey Joe Talamo said, "He's got a nice late kick and he wasn't tired coming out of this. It was exactly the kind of race we wanted for him. He wants to be way back, then come running, which is what he did today."

Broken Dreams wins the Osunitas Stakes

Results Chart

Broken Dreams in the winner's circle. Winning trainer Tom Proctor said, "She wants to bear out, and a lot of jocks want to fight her, which makes it worse. Garrett rode her great."

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