Return to a course that he enjoys, Luftwaffe red will attempt to secure the first graded stakes win of his career in the $200,000 Eddie D Stakes (G2T) on October 1 Santa Anita Park.
The Eddie D is held on the 6 1/2 furlong hillside course, where the 4-year-old son of Luftwaffe blue achieved top results in two races at approval level this season. Trained by Leonard Powell for owners Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Golightly, Air Force Red posted a fourth-place finish in the Del Mar Mile (G2T) on Sept. 3 – his stakes debut.
The Eddie D is not among the 12 Breeders' Cup Challenge events this weekend, but its top finishers will be considered for the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) on November 5. Last year's Eddie D winner, Lieutenant Dan is California's top turf sprinter and has already secured a spot in the turf sprint with his victory in the Green Flash Stakes (G3T) on September 4th sea. Lieutenant Dan came second in the Turf Sprint last year and is training until championship weekend Keeneland and a likely rematch with Superstar Golden buddy who defeated him in the 2021 renewal at Del Mar.
The absence of Lieutenant Dan creates a well-coordinated group that will be sent out by trainer Phil D'Amato Gregorian chant who came fourth at the Eddie D last year, and Coulthard who took third place at this year's Green Flash. D'Amato's Southern California brilliance on turf is comparable to Bob Baffert's touch on the main track. D'Amato has become the king of the California turf after coaching a record 57 turf winners at this year's spring-summer meet at Santa Anita. His Gregorian Chant, a 6-year-old gelding, leads the field of nine with grass earnings of $393,408. Coulthard has three wins on grass but is 0-4 on the slope course.
Gregorian Chant wins a fundraiser at Santa Anita Park
Coach Amador Merei Sanchez wants to send out Dubai key with a fourth place in Green Flash. Dubai's key players challenge Air Force Red early, having shot through fractions of :21 3/5 and :44 2/5 before tiring in the Green Flash. If they burn each other out, that could lead to Gregorian chant or Lane Way .
Hall of Famer Richard Mandella trains Lane Way, who has finished worse than third only twice in nine turf starts. Despite a very bumpy ride (rugged, crowded, controlled) he managed to finish second in the Green Flash, just 2 1/4 lengths behind Lieutenant Dan. Mandella is also running Goliad who has won six furlongs on turf and can keep up a speedy pace. It returns a distance of a mile, which is often a plus when descending.
The Eddie D is named after 71-year-old Eddie Delahoussaye, whose Hall of Fame riding career began as a boy on the Cajun bush tracks in Louisiana. His 6,384 victories included five in the Triple Crown Series and seven in the Breeders' Cup.
Entries: Eddie D S. (G2T)
Santa Anita Park, Saturday, October 1, 2022, Race 7
- Class II
- Approximately 6 1/2f
- Downhill turf
- $200,000
- From 3 years
- 3:38 p.m. (local)
