Eddie Read Handicap : Stevens Guides Tsunami Slew to a Record Win

Gary Stevens finds himself in a pleasant predicament this morning. A successful weekend can do that to a jockey.

On Saturday, Stevens rode Hilco Scamper to victory in the Sapling Stakes at Monmouth, N.J. He arrived back in San Diego at midnight for Sunday’s Del Mar program.

On Sunday, Stevens rode Tsunami Slew to a half-length victory in the $186,550 Eddie Read Handicap in a turf course record time of 1:46 4/5 over 1 1/8 miles.

Hence the problem. What does Stevens do on Aug. 25?

He could ride Tsunami Slew, the 4-year-old son of Seattle Slew, in the Arlington Million at Chicago, but he would also like to ride Hilco Scamper in the Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga.

Stevens said Sunday that he is uncertain which race he’ll choose.

“At the first of last week, my agent said we would know something after this weekend,” Stevens said. “Now, I’ll have to talk to my agent again. You’d think that one of them might have gotten beaten. They both ran super races.”

Tsunami Slew was among three horses in the Eddie Read Handicap that were on the primary list for the Arlington Million. The other two, Both Ends Burning and Dahar, finished third and sixth, respectively.

Three others in the Eddie Read were alternates for the Arlington Million--Al Mamoon finished second, Fatih fourth and Drumalis fifth.

Tsunami Slew and Al Mamoon had also finished one-two in the American Handicap on July 4 at Hollywood Park.

Tsunami Slew, who captured the Del Mar Derby last year, had won two of eight previous races this year while netting $268,900. Sunday’s win was worth $112,300.

“He’s matured and settled a great deal,” Eddie Gregson, his trainer, said. “He’s sure of himself now, and I’m sure of what to do with him. No more switching him from dirt to grass and back. He wins on the turf, and he stays on the turf from here on out.

“He could be as good as there is in the country right now. I’m going to let his performance do the talking on that. We’ll know more after the Arlington Million and the Breeders’ Cup.”

Tsunami Slew was running second to Fatih through most of Sunday’s race. He passed Fatih while leaving the furlong pole and held off the challenge from Al Mamoon.

“I wanted to sit back off Fatih,” Stevens said. “I chirped a little bit at the turn. I didn’t want Fatih to steal the race and had him collared at the 5/16th pole. I could hear the other horse (Al Mamoon) coming on at the eighth pole. But Slew hit another gear and took off.”

Al Mamoon had been running fourth for most of the race. He saved ground around the final turn, angled outside the leaders for the stretch drive and was closing in on Tsunami Slew at the end.

“The others didn’t come off the rail,” said Al Mamoon’s jockey, Sandy Hawley. “I had to go to the outside. Al Mamoon really fires when you want him to run. I thought we were going to get him (Tsunami Slew).”

Both Ends Burning, the pre-race favorite ridden by Eddie Delahoussaye, was running last for six furlongs and responded when called upon, but it was too late by then.

“I was surprised the pace was so slow,” Delahoussaye said. “My horse had no excuse. He was trying at the end, but the others just kept running. I don’t think he could have caught the other two the way they were running. When we get to the (Arlington) Million, it might be a different story going a mile and a quarter.”

Tsunami Slew, whose winning time was one second better than the record of 1.47 3/5 set by Go West Young Man in the 1980 edition of the race, paid $9.40, 5.20 and 3.60. Al Mamoon paid $5.60 and 4.00, while Both Ends Burning paid $2.60.

Del Mar Note The track attendance and handle records were broken Sunday. The attendance was 29,795 and the handle was $5,292,192.