Eddie Read

Red Oak Stable's SWEET RETURN (GB) (Elmaamul) took the lead soon

after the start and, under the precise guidance of Alex Solis, went on to take the field gate-to-wire in the $400,000

Eddie Read H. (G1) over the Del

Mar turf on Sunday. Trained by Ron McAnally, the classy five-year-old set

fractions of  :25, :49 1/5, 1:12 3/5, 1:35 1/5 and 1:46 2/5 while never

being seriously threatened from his foes, finishing 1 1/2 lengths clear at the

wire. The chestnut was the 5-2 second choice and paid $7, $4 and $2.80 while

topping the $22.30 exacta ($1) and $80.30 trifecta ($1).

Fourty Niners Son (Distorted Humor) saved ground off the pace on the rail

and closed admirably to garner place honors a nose clear of third. The 7-1 shot

gave back $6.40 and $3.60. Singletary (Sultry Song) chased the winner in second

for every step but the last, finishing a hard-luck third at 4-1. Show was worth

$3.60. Even-money choice Castledale (Ire) (Peintre Celebre) was next and

followed by Fast and Furious (Fr) (Singspiel [Ire]) and Qsar (Ger) (Tiger Hill),

with A To The Z (Benchmark) scratched.

Sweet Return adds to an already impressive resume, notching his third Grade 1

triumph and fifth graded tally in all. The chestnut moved his mark to 26-7-5-6

with a bankroll of $1,508,731. He has captured such prestigious races as the

Hollywood Derby (G1), Charles Whittingham Memorial H. (G1), Kilroe Mile H. (G2)

and San Marcos S. (G2), with placings in six other graded events.

The winner was bred in Great Britian by C S Tateson and is out of the winning

Claude Monet mare Sweet Revival.