Masterpiece pull a few Rich Strike like the move in the $252,500 Eddie Read Stakes (G2T) on July 31 at Del Mar. He crossed his name off the also-qualifying list, putting him on the sideline, and then he started from far back at a vibrant pace for the win.
Eddie Read hardly has a big field like Rich Strike competed in this year’s Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) as he dashed in and from afar back. But Del Mar has a quick bend out of the chute for the 1/8 mile race on grass, and Master Piece and jockey Abel Cedillo negotiated the ride well.
When the gate opens, Masteroffoxhounds on the leading rail, quickly followed by Beyond Brilliant . Master Piece, horse number 12 but came out from tower 10 with two scratches, turned inside like Home screen horse number 8, turned his head. Hong Kong Harry and Mount Cathkin both were coached by Phil D’Amato, caught between the two, later causing D’Amato to protest, although the managers remained unchanged.
“I don’t think a lot happened at the start,” says Cedillo. “I just skimmed the horse along with me.”
Masteroffoxhounds, also trained by D’Amato, and Beyond Brilliant jostled for an early advantage, going the first quarter of a mile at: 23.24. They opened about five lengths across the rest of the field going down to the back post. Beyond Brilliant then took command of a long drive towards the far fork, but the Masteroffoxhounds turned back and those two were joined outside by Tango Tango Tango .
Cedillo soon ranked Master Piece on Saturday. They saved the ground, and Master Piece glided across the track around the bend. Then, at the climax of the clip, Cedillo was able to get Master Piece out of the third path.
“In the three-eighth column, I got lucky,” Cedillo said. “I had to go between two horses, and it was there for me. Then he was really running late.”
Master Piece took the lead outside of Beyond Brilliant and Masteroffoxhounds, swooping in those two and scoring 3 1/2 lengths in a final time of 1:46.25. He paid $34.20 to win.
“He’s fresh and a happy horse here (at Del Mar,” McCarthy said. “I was surprised at the move he made. I knew he was going to run well. I told Abel he would roll late, but that was pretty impressive for the last quarter of a mile.”
Others arrived late, resulting in five horses competing for second place. Hong Kong Harry took the spot by half the length, with Cathkin Peak third.
Michael McCarthy trains Master Piece for owners Fernando Diaz-Valdes, Baalbek Corp, and Don Alberto Stable. McCarthy also practices There Goes Harvard , who got scratched from Eddie Read and instead ran in the previous day’s San Diego Stakes (G2). There, Harvard had a rough ride and ended up in last place.
Master Piece got his first win since winning an allowance race at Keeneland in April 2021 while being coached by Chad Brown. McCarthy took over last summer, and Master Piece in the first start for McCarthy finished second in the Del Mar Handicap awarded by the Japan Racing Association (G2T) to the Astronaut.
Haras Don Alberto bred Master Piece, a 6-year-old dog playing puzzles Master Artisan –Torre Laguna via Proud citizen .
