Formidable Man maintains perfect Del Mar record in Eddie Read

Odds-on favorite Formidable Man extended his local mark over the Del Mar turf course to a perfect 5-for-5 in Sunday’s $250,500 Eddie Read (G2), reinforcing his hopes for the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) at his favorite track.

The Eddie Read didn’t come up as deep as it might have been. Reigning titleholder Johannes, the circuit’s leading turf miler of 2024, will reappear in next Saturday’s Fourstardave (G1) at Saratoga. Moreover, two key players who were entered in the Edie Read – 2023 hero Gold Phoenix, as well as Atitlan, were scratched.

Nevertheless, Formidable Man had to deliver a high-caliber effort, as the 125-pound highweight, to run down the loose-on-the-lead Cabo Spirit. Trained by Michael McCarthy and piloted by Umberto Rispoli, like Preakness (G1) and Haskell (G1) star Journalism, the 4-5 shot took up a close stalking position in third. Rispoli, expecting the slow pace scenario, didn’t want to give his mount too much to do, and he saved ground at every stage. 

Formidable Man was tucked in just behind Cabo Spirit through fractions of :24.97, :49, and 1:13.64 on the firm course. Then Balnikhov, who had been anchored last, took off to accost Cabo Spirit, and the tempo quickened. Cabo Spirit threw in a fourth quarter in :23.68 to parry Balnikhov’s thrust. But in the process, the leader came off the fence and opened the door for Formidable Man.

Accelerating sharply inside the final furlong, Formidable Man overtook Cabo Spirit by one length while completing 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.55. 

Cabo Spirit crossed the wire 1 3/4 lengths clear of the rallying Stay Hot. Balnikhov flattened out in fourth after his bold move. Next came Dicey Mo Chara and Balladeer. 

Formidable Man races for William K. Warren and Suzanne Warren, who also campaigned his sire, City of Light, a fellow McCarthy pupil. Once the bay figured out his best running style, he scored a hat trick here last season in the Oceanside S., Del Mar Derby (G2), and Hollywood Derby (G1). Reverting to his unhelpfully aggressive early tactics in the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) at Gulfstream Park, he gave way last. 

But Formidable Man rebounded from off the pace in the March 1 Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G1) at Santa Anita. He overdid the deep-closing tactics in the May 25 Shoemaker Mile (G1), where he closed belatedly in fourth, and Rispoli took corrective measures here. Formidable Man now sports a mark of 14-7-2-0, $985,425.

Bred by Town & Country Horse Farms in Kentucky, Formidable Man sold for $375,000 as a Keeneland September yearling. His dam is the Grade 2-winning Silent Name mare Fanticola.