Johannes and Du Jour are poised to draw the majority of wagering interest among the nine turf specialists competing in the 51st edition of the Grade 2, $250,000 Eddie Read Stakes this Sunday at Del Mar.
Veteran handicapper Jeff Siegel, who has taken on the role of morning-line maker at Del Mar, anticipates a competitive 1 1/8-mile race featuring the 4-year-old colt Johannes at odds of 2-1 and the 6-year-old gelding Du Jour at 5-2.
Johannes has been in impressive form, having won five of his last six races, including a notable victory in the Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita on May 27. He is both bred and owned by a group known simply as Cuyathy.
Du Jour, racing in the colours of Jill Baffert and Debbie Lanni, aims to secure his seventh win and add to his earnings, which currently stand at $1,154,220.
Adding a bit of intrigue to the race is the familiarity between the trainers: Johannes is trained by Tim Yakteen, formerly the top assistant to Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, who is the conditioner for Du Jour.
Also noteworthy in the lineup is Gold Phoenix, the previous year's Eddie Read winner, trained by Little Red Feather Racing and partners. This Ireland-bred gelding won the race last summer by three-quarters of a length. Finishing second that day was Balnikhov, another entrant from Little Red Feather and partners, who were returning for this year's event.
Additionally, Michael and Julia Iavarone, Nicholas Zoumas, and Frank Argano will have their Chile-bred Master Piece, the 2022 Eddie Read champion, participating in the 2024 edition of the stakes.