Last summer, Michael House’s Hunt was emerging as a smart turf sprinter with three straight wins on Santa Anita’s downhill. Now the Phil D’Amato trainee has broadened his portfolio by scoring his first two-turn victory in Saturday’s $250,690 Eddie Read (G2) at Del Mar.
Adding blinkers after a comeback fifth in the July 4 American (G3), Hunt took up a good early stalking position on the inside for Flavien Prat. Kenjisstorm showed the way through splits of :24.12 and :48.16 on the firm course, but Mr. Roary drew alongside at the six-furlong mark in 1:11.56 and put his head in front in the stretch. Ashleyluvssugar, the 3-5 favorite, ranged up ominously on the outside to challenge, while Hunt was traveling strongly in the pocket.
As soon as the gap appeared, Hunt shot through to defeat Ashleyluvssugar by a length. The 3-1 second choice negotiated 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.62.
For the second straight year, Ashleyluvssugar was denied by a D’Amato runner in the Eddie Read. In the 2016 edition, he couldn’t catch front-running Midnight Storm.
Mr. Roary hung tough for third, 3 3/4 lengths clear of Kenjisstorm. Upwiththebirds, Hunt’s stablemate, trailed early and wound up fifth. Next came Wanstead Gardens and Abbey Vale.
Imported from Johnny Murtagh’s yard in Ireland, Hunt started his American career over a route of ground in 2015, but didn’t find success until shortening up last season. The son of Dark Angel won four of six sprinting on the Santa Anita turf, including a stakes breakthrough in the Siren Lure and placings in the Eddie D. (G3) and Joe Hernandez.
Last November, D’Amato tried to stretch him out again, and he finished a closing fourth to Ring Weekend, Vyjack, and Om in the Seabiscuit (G2) here during the Bing Crosby meet. He wasn’t seen again until his American tightener, which set him up well for his first graded laurel in the Eddie Read. The five-year-old gelding has now earned $398,442 from his 22-6-5-3 line.
Bred by Michael O’Callaghan in Ireland, Hunt likely gets his routing ability from his maternal half of the pedigree. His dam, Mansiya, is a Vettori half-sister to stakes winner Abury from the further family of South African co-champion Bad Girl Runs. With his third dam being Group 2 winner Bay Street, he descends from the female line of 2010 Dubai Duty Free (G1) shocker Al Shemali as well as Group 2 winners Crimson Quest and Tungsten Strike.
Quotes from Del Mar
Winning trainer Phil D’Amato on Hunt: “All along this was our plan, to use the American as a prep race for this. He got in a little trouble in that race, through no one’s fault and I think the mile and an eighth and adding blinkers helped this horse’s focus. We’ll put our heads together and decide on whether to run him back in the Del Mar Mile (G2) or stretch him out in the Del Mar H. (G2). One of the two.”
Winning rider Flavien Prat: “I don’t know if this was my best ride today. He had been training so well and I know how he can finish. I thought he’d run well here. I moved up inside and thought they’d leave a hole for me. But it wasn’t happening there for a bit. I had to wait, but when we saw it (the hole) he was there. He finished strong.”
Hall of Famer Gary Stevens on runner-up Ashleyluvssugar: “The (lack of) distance might have had something to do with it, but I just think it was a little too long between dances. He ran well and I thought I had the winner (Hunt) boxed up, but he got out. I had Santiago (Gonzalez on third-place finisher Mr. Roary) measured, but the winner got loose.”
