DEL MAR — On a weekend of upsets, jockey Umberto Rispoli and the 4-year-old colt Johannes dodged the biggest one.
Johannes won the Grade II Eddie Read Stakes Sunday by 2½ lengths over 70-1 long shot Dicey Mo Chara.
During the second weekend of Del Mar’s 85th summer meeting, Johannes was one of eight winning favorites over 38 races.
But the son of Nyquist was pretty much in control of the turf test for older horses over the entire 11/8 miles.
Johannes ($4.20) never trailed early leader Balladeer by more than a length before taking over in the stretch and besting a field that numbered nine former graded stakes winners.
“I am very proud of the team for a job well done in this one,” said Rispoli. “It’s difficult in this race to judge the pace. Johannes passed the test today. Turning for home, I just pressed the button. It was a joy. He was very happy today. I am in a precious position to ride a horse like him.”
The Read, the longest race of Johannes’ career, was the third straight stakes win for the Johannes-Rispoli team this year — starting with the Grade III American at Santa Anita on April 4 and highlighted by the Grade I Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita on May 27. Johannes has won six of his last seven starts with Rispoli.
“The pace scenario worked out well for us,” said trainer Tim Yakteen. “I was just looking for Umberto 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 in our favor.
“Johannes makes my job super easy. He was up close. And he’s very push button.”
Jockey Jeremy Laprida moved Dicey Mo Chara from sixth to second in the stretch, but never challenged the winner. Balnikhov moved from eighth to third in the stretch with import Master Piece finishing fourth. The Bob Baffert-trained, second-favorite Du Jour faded from third to sixth in the stretch, finishing a head ahead of defending Read champion Gold Phoenix.
Parenting, a 3-year-old son of Justify, won his third career start in impressive fashion in a one-mile allowance race on the dirt — leaving Baffert to contemplate the next step for the colt that fetched $750,000 as a 2-year-old in training.
“We have some options for Parenting,” said Baffert. “It could be the Travers, the Penn Derby or stay here for the Pacific Classic. I love the way he went today.
That was pretty impressive against older horses. He got challenged two, three times and responded each time. He reminded me of Justify.”
Parenting’s sire will be inducted into the Hall of Fame later this week.
Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Parenting, the 2-5 favorite in the field of five older horses, finished a neck ahead of Hero Status.
Parenting ran the mile in 1 minute, 36.43 seconds.
As for reigning Pacific Classic champion Arabian Knight’s fourth-place finish in the Grade II San Diego Handicap on Saturday, Baffert said: “Disappointing … that wasn’t him.”
Jockey Geovanni Franco missed a second straight day Sunday after being thrown from his mount, Smooth Salute, in Friday’s sixth race.
And Laprida drew a seven-day suspension from the incident for “careless riding.”
Laprida was cited for altering course aboard Zalamo without sufficient clearance in the turn, forcing Smooth Salute into the rail. Zalamo was disqualified. Laprida will be sidelined from Aug. 3-15.
