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Global Hunter poaches Eddie Read

Global Hunter earned a career-best score for himself and trainer A.C. Avila (Benoit Photo) L-Bo Racing and Monte Pyle's GLOBAL HUNTER (Arg) (Jade Hunter) has been a solid journeyman on the Southern California turf scene, often putting forth dependable efforts without managing to win a top prize. That all changed in an eventful running of Saturday's $350,000 Eddie Read H. (G1), when the A.C. Avila veteran reaped the rewards with a driving one-length score. The complexion of the Eddie Read changed dramatically on the first turn. The speedy Thorn Song (Unbridled's Song) appeared to be happily bowling along in front of Monterey Jazz (Thunderello) through an opening quarter in :24. Then Thorn Song jinked abruptly to his right and bolted to the outside rail. Monterey Jazz had to be taken in hand by Tyler Baze, and fired up by the incident, the even-money choice tore off through splits of :47 and 1:10. Meanwhile, Global Hunter was loping along in second in the proverbial garden spot, as many as five lengths behind the front runner but comfortably ahead of the rest of the field. On the far turn, Monterey Jazz began to weaken, and his margin shrank alarmingly as Global Hunter went after him. The favorite was noticeably spent at the top of the stretch, but Global Hunter was full of run as he overtook Monterey Jazz.

Although the closers made headway inside the final furlong, led by Awesome Gem (Awesome Again), they could not catch the long-gone Global Hunter. The 14-1 shot reeled off 1 1/8 miles in 1:46 1/5 on the firm turf, fueling payouts of $30.20, $13 and $7.80.

Global Hunter thus helped Corey Nakatani to record his 96th career stakes victory at Del Mar, moving past retired Hall of Famer Laffit Pincay Jr. for second place on the seaside track's all-time list. Retired Hall of Famer Chris McCarron owns the mark with 134.

"When Mike's horse (Mike Smith on Thorn Song) ducked out (on the clubhouse turn), I just wanted to be relaxed and patient," Nakatani said. "When those things happen, you don't want to lose your focus. It can cost you and your horse. He (Global Hunter) was traveling great and running real relaxed. He came running and that was that. I thought he'd run a big one today and I rode him with confidence."

"That other horse (Thorn Song) ducked so fast I had to grab my horse," Baze said of Monterey Jazz. "We were cruising; he was cool as a cucumber. I'm sitting in the garden (spot) and I'm loving it. Then Mike's horse does his thing and as soon as I have to grab mine he's gone. He just takes off and runs himself out."

"Man, did he duck!" Smith said of Thorn Song. "He just threw his head up and went. I knew he wasn't hurt; he just saw something and he ducked. There's a brick pillar over near there with yellow tape on it; maybe that was it. I did well to stay on. It's a shame. He was cruisin'. If we keep going, who knows?"

"He just bolted," said Mike Mitchell, who just took over the training of Thorn Song from Dale Romans. "He was right where I wanted him to be. I opened his blinkers a little bit for this race, and maybe he needs full blinkers. We thought opening the blinkers would let him see other horses coming to him."

The 8-1 Awesome Gem rallied from last and outfinished Whatsthescript (Ire) (Royal Applause [GB]) by three-quarters of a length for second. The runner-up paid $9.80 and $5.60, and Whatsthescript yielded $3.80 to show as the nearly 3-1 second choice. The $1 exotics totaled $117.20 (exacta), $487.70 (trifecta) and $2,119 (3-5-8-6 superfecta) with Artiste Royal (Ire) (Danehill) another head away in fourth. Monterey Jazz faded to fifth, followed by Dakota Phone (Zavata) and Richard's Kid (Lemon Drop Kid). Thorn Song was pulled up after his misadventure.

Global Hunter's biggest career victory nearly doubled his earnings to $455,365 while improving his mark to 25-7-2-7. The six-year-old bay had respectable form in his native Argentina. He captured three stakes, including the Premio America (Arg-G2), and placed in four other group events, notably the Gran Premio Dos Mil Guineas (Arg-G1), Polla de Potrillos (Arg-G1) and Gran Premio Internacional Joaquin S. de Anchorena (Arg-G1).

Global Hunter turned in a promising U.S. debut when third in the 2008 Mervyn LeRoy H. (G2). His resume also includes placings in the Del Mar Mile H. (G2) and Thunder Road H. (G3). Prior to the Eddie Read, his only stateside win came in the restricted Lure S. at Santa Anita last fall. Global Hunter, who was fourth in the deep Frank E. Kilroe Mile H. (G1) earlier this year, was coming off a non-threatening eighth in the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) on Cushion Track.

"I've always had high expectations for this horse ever since he came to America," said Avila, who was earning his first Grade 1 win. "But one thing, then another happened to keep him from doing those things. I thought he had a good chance here. He had been training super."

Bred by La Providencia, Global Hunter is out of Brazilian Group 1 queen Griffe de Paris (Brz) (Telescopico), making him a half-brother to Argentinean Group 1 star Genereux (French Deputy), Argentinean Group 1-placed Griffe Portenha (Allied Forces) and three Brazilian group performers -- Group 1 victress Lady de Paris (Nugget Point [Ire]), multiple Group 2 hero House of Lords (Fast Gold) and Group 3 winner King de Paris (Nugget Point [Ire]). Global Hunter's half-sister, Open Secrets (West by West), is herself the dam of Ollagua (Pure Prize), a current three-time Group 1 heroine in Argentina. This is also the family of Brazilian Group 1 winners Caesar's Palace (Locris) and Nugget Filly (Nugget Point [Ire]).

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