Eddie Read field

by James Scully

Acclamation will spot his seven rivals two-to-seven pounds as the 123-pound

highweight.

Grade 2 winner Caracortado just missed behind the well-regarded Courageous

Cat in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile last out, recording a neck second,

and finished only a head back in second following a wide trip in the Grade 1 Frank E.

Kilroe Mile in March. The Michael Machowsky-trained gelding did capture his

lone turf attempt at nine furlongs, winning the restricted Sunshine Millions

Turf this winter, and the stretch runner would benefit from a solid pace on

Saturday. Regular rider Joe Talamo will guide the four-year-old chestnut.

Smart Bid merits serious respect off his recent performances. A nose second

in the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap, the five-year-old horse followed with a

victory in the Grade 2 Mervyn Muniz Jr. at Fair Grounds. He's run well in defeat

in his last two outings, finishing second by less than a length in the Grade 1 Woodford

Reserve Turf Classic at Churchill Downs before grabbing runner-up honors in

the Colonial Turf Cup last out, and horseman Graham Motion wins at nearly a 20

percent rate with shippers. Smart Bid will bring jockey Edgar Prado with him

from the East Coast.

Celtic Princess will tackle male rivals on the upswing for trainer A.C.

Avila, who has orchestrated a major turnaround in form for the seven-year-old

mare this season. Unplaced in five straight U.S. starts last year, the champion

Brazilian import was transferred to Avila and snapped her winless streak with a

comfortable 1 3/4-length decision over allowance/optional claiming rivals at

Santa Anita in late December. She wasn't seen again until the Grade 1 Gamely

Stakes on May 30 and nearly stole the race on the lead, coming up a head short in a game

runner-up effort. Celtic Princess showed her class time, overcoming an awkward

start to win the Grade 2 Royal Heroine Mile going away by 2 1/4 lengths, and

jockey Rafael Bejarano will have her on or close to the lead from the start of

the Eddie Read.

Multiple Grade 2 winner Jeranimo will make his first appearance

since a fourth in the Grade 3 Inglewood in late April, and French Group 3 hero

Goldwaki will look to improve in his second start stateside

following a disappointing last-place effort in the American H. (G2). Grade 3

victor Leroy's Dynameaux and multiple Grade 2-placed Kid Edward, the respective one-two finishers from a July 2

allowance/optional claiming event at Hollywood Park, round out the deep line-up.