Johannes © Benoit Photo

Cuyathy’s Johannes, the favorite in a field of nine for the 51st edition of the $252,000 Eddie Read Stakes on turf Sunday at Del Mar, stalked in the two hole under Umberto Rispoli, then fired in the lane to draw clear handily and come home two and a half lengths best in the Grade II headliner.

The homebred 4-year-old by Nyquist out of a Congrats mare was scoring his sixth victory in his 10th start and picked up a check for $150,000 in the process. He now has $573,859 in earnings. He returned $4.20 to his backers in the crowd on a sunny and mild afternoon by the seashore.

Tim Yakteen trains the colt and has saddled him for five stakes wins. He powered home in :35 for his last three furlongs and completed the mile and one-eighth in 1:47.88.

Finishing second in the grass test was longshot Dicey Mo Chara, owned by Red Baron’s Barn and Rancho Temescal. Another half length back came Little Red Fether Racing, Madaket Stables and Old Bones Racing Stable’s Balnikhov.

The stakes win was the third of the young meet for rider Rispoli, all accomplished on grass.

Racing now takes three days off at Del Mar, but will return on Thursday with an eight-race card that has a first post of 2 p.m.

UMBERTO RISPOLI (Johannes, winner) – “He was happy today! I am very proud of the team for a job well done. It’s difficult in this race to judge the pace. He has passed the test today to go a mile and an eighth. Turning for home, I just pressed the button, turn a foot as they say, and it’s a joy. I am in a precious position to a ride a horse like him.”

TIM YAKTEEN (Johannes, winner) – “The pace scenario worked out well. He was up close and he’s very push button. He makes my job super easy. I was just looking for Umberto (Rispoli) to get a clean break and position himself where he was comfortable. I didn’t realize they were going to be able to slow the pace down as much as they did but it just worked into our favor.”

FRACTIONS:  :24.35  :48.51  1:12.85  1:36.53  1:47.88

The stakes win was the third of the meet for rider Rispoli, but his first in the Eddie Read. He now has 28 stakes wins at Del Mar.

The stakes win was the first of the meet for trainer Yakteen and his first in the Eddie Read. He now has eight stakes wins at Del Mar. 

The winning owners who go by Cuyathy LLC are Joseph and Deborrah McCloskey of nearby Solana Beach, CA.