How to bet the 2026 Eddie Read Stakes

A fine rendition of the $250,000 Eddie Read (G2) will take place on Sunday at Del Mar with nine set to go postward. The heavyweight tussle attracted the best of the turf performers in the Golden State for the 1 1/8-mile test, led by Del Mar master #8 Formidable Man, whose lone setback from seven runs on the course came when he checked in second to Notable Speech in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) in November. 

Eddie Read Wagers

• $10 exacta 8 with 3,4,5 ($30)

• $3 trifecta key 8 with 3,4,5 ($18)

One of two in the field for Michael McCarthy, the multiple Grade 1-winning son of City of Light commenced 2026 with a stylish and convincing score in the Shoemaker Mile (G1) at Santa Anita on May 25 and has been training in steady fashion for his second run of the season. Formidable Man has useful positional speed as well as a potent turn of foot, and he will be especially tough to upend in this endeavor with something close to his top performance. The five-year-old bay will have Johnnie V. in for the ride. 

$2.4 million earner #5 Gold Phoenix is a five-time winner at Del Mar for trainer Phil D’Amato and has won two of his last three races this season. The ageless eight-year-old is running at a distance that is shorter than his ideal voyage in this one, but he’s still a very classy campaigner who has put in some big efforts at nine panels in his career. Belardo gelding will hope for the pace to be fast and contested to aid his stout closing run with regular pilot Hector Berrios on board. 

#4 Almendares, also from the D’Amato shedrow, owns a trio of local wins in his lifetime and is a high-quality miler type who has been in very good form in 2026. The Havana Grey six-year-old was second in the Shoemaker (G1) in his latest effort, and it’s worth noting that he checked in third in the Pegasus Turf (G1) at this distance earlier in the season, as well. The dark bay gelding likes the course and comes in fresh with Antonio Fresu aboard. 

#3 Cabo Spirit is the controlling pace in the race for Papaprodromou and was a clear second in this contest in 2025. The Pioneerof the Nile gelding doesn’t have a great mark at Del Mar, but he will be dictating things from the break, and I can’t leave him off of my tickets with Mike Smith in the irons.