Slim Shadey all set to take on Acclamation in the Eddie Read Stakes at Del Mar
Everyone’s pick for the Grade 1 Eddie Read Stakes at Del Mar is, Acclamation, and only a few are placing their bets on the other runners who are competing.
The Donald Warren trained runner is aiming to defend his title and take it home for the second time.
Not only is Slim Shadey one of the few brave ones running against Acclamation, but he is running with the intention of taking the crown and rearranging the hierarchy over the distance of 1 1/8 miles on 21st July, 2012.
The two runners have battled it out before in the Grade 1 Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap at Betfair Hollywood Park on 9th June, 2012, but it was Acclamation, who prevailed over the distance of 1 ¼ miles.
Now, the Simon Callaghan trained gelding is returning with his fierce rival with a new-found motivation. He competed in the Grade 1 United Nations Stakes at Monmouth Park on 7th July, 2012, but finished fifth.
Referring to his performance in the aforementioned race, the trainer commented:
"He broke slow, didn’t really get into the race, and it was a speed-favoring track that day. But he came out of that race well."
The trainer is optimistic about the performance of the son of Val Royal, out of mare Vino Veritas, in this race as he remarked:
“Acclamation, we all know, is a very good horse and we understand that he’s going to be hard to beat." Callaghan further added: "But there’s not that much between them and we’re going to give it a shot.”
The Phill Cunningham owned was transferred from England to the United States and adjusted well.
After he touched down in America, he triumphed in the Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes in February, where he defeated the John Shirreffs trained, Utopian, and completed the 1 1/4 mile course in 2 minutes and 01.55 seconds.
Since then, the four-year-old has competed in the Grade 2 San Luis Rey Stakes at Santa Anita Park and the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic at Churchill Downs and managed to finish as a runner-up in both starts.
Garrett Gomez will be aboard, Slim Shadey, who carries one less pound than Acclamation with 122.
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