The 19th Running of the Read Stakes-G2
Sunday, July 31, 2022
DMR Race #6 $250.000
3+ 119/124 Lbs 11/8 (T)
Track/Stakes Record-1:44.48 (Snippets-2009)
The G2 Read Stakes lost a little bit of its star power with the early-morning scratch of Iron Nation, but that didn’t stop Phar Lap and Droopy from giving the fans a thrilling stretch duel. Phar Lap got the better of his sophomore rival as he improved his ledger to 42-12-7-7 and increased his bankroll to $425.140. The G2 Read was the first graded stakes victory for the 7yo gelding.
Early on, Phar Lap and Droopy took up stalking positions as Hollywood Niner was left alone to dictate the pace. When Beach Xaar took back just off of the stalking duo, Phar Lap moved to the rail as Droopy stayed just to his outside. Both runners were content with their positioning as Hollywood Niner posted a :46.72 opening half-mile split; however, they both started making headway towards the front after they passed the half-mile pole.
Phar Lap moved out to the two-path, which caused Droopy to move out to the three-path, but then things got a little weird. Hollywood Niner was two lengths in front of the duo as he posted three-quarters in 1:09.87, but it was obvious that the eventual top two had his measure. While Phar Lap maintained his lane in the two-path, Droopy (perhaps belaying his relative inexperience) continued to drift around the turn and into the stretch.
All of that lost ground made a difference as it was Phar Lap who led with a furlong to go as he posted a 1:33.60 mile-split. Droopy continued to battle, and continued to drift out, through the lane; however, Phar Lap would hit the wire a half-length to the good after stopping the clock in 1:45.55. Droopy was a length-and-a-quarter better than Hollywood Niner with Forty Exba and Beach Xaar completing the order of finish.
Congratulations to Phar Lap and Threshold for their victory in the 19th edition of the G2 Read Stakes!
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
