Redattore’s Big Finish Earns Victory in Read

Before Saturday, the only other time trainer Richard Mandella had won the $400,000 Eddie Read Handicap was in 1993.

The name of the winner that year may ring a bell. It was Kotashaan, who went on to win the Breeders’ Cup Turf and was named horse of the year.

Such honors aren’t likely to come Redattore’s way, but the Brazilian-bred made it three victories in six U.S. starts with a two-length victory over Native Desert in 1:47 for the 1 1/8 miles on turf.

In a race weakened because of the scratch of morning-line favorite Irish Prize by trainer Neil Drysdale, Redattore, the 5-2 second choice, was second early while longshot Special Ring ran off to a big lead.

When Special Ring faltered after having a 12-length lead with three-eighths of a mile to run, Redattore, a son of Roi Normand owned by Luis Taunay, took over and went on to win his ninth race in 17 starts. It was his first Grade I victory in this country. He had won a Group I in his native land in 1999.

“This is a very good horse,” said assistant trainer Gary Mandella, who saddled the winner in the absence of his father, Richard, who was in New York to attend the wedding of longtime client Gerald Ford. “I think the sky is the limit as far as the potential for him.

“We might go to the Arlington Million or the Atto Mile [at Woodbine]. We’d have to consider those kind of races, but this horse has trained so well on the dirt, I wouldn’t be shocked if my dad decides to give him a shot in the [$1-million] Pacific Classic [on Aug. 19].”

The victory was the first for jockey Alex Solis in the Read, but gave him four stakes victories through the first 10 days of the meet.

“At the half-mile pole, [Special Ring] looked like he was running off and I assumed he would come back to us,” Solis said. “At the half-mile pole, I thought I better get going and we got the jump on the rest of the field. He finished up really well.”

Native Desert, the consistent California-bred, finished 1 1/2 lengths in front of Super Quercus, then came Timboroa, a lackluster performer as the 11-10 favorite, National Anthem and Special Ring.

Claimed several years ago by trainer Juan Garcia for owner Miguel Rubio, Native Desert has finished in the top three in 42 of 58 starts and the $80,000 he collected Saturday pushed his earnings to $1,441,391.

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A winner of six of 10 in his native Chile, Lido Palace won for the first time outside South America, beating 4-5 favorite Albert The Great and six others in the $1,008,000 Whitney Handicap at Saratoga.

Trained by Bobby Frankel for owners John and Jerome Amerman, the 4-year-old avenged a loss to Albert The Great in the Suburban Handicap on July 1 at Belmont Park. Ridden by Jerry Bailey, the 5-2 second choice, who was in receipt of nine pounds from the favorite, won by two lengths and completed the 1 1/8 miles in 1:47 4/5.

Albert The Great, the 124-pound high weight, was wide throughout and saved the place by a neck over Gander, the longest shot in the field at 35-1.

“This horse is getting fitter,” Frankel said. “He’s got an unbelievable amount of talent.

“When he made the lead, he lost his concentration. Jerry hit him left-handed and I think that made it worse. The blinkers [put on before the Suburban] have really helped this horse. He’s much more aggressive now.”

Albert The Great is winless in three starts at Saratoga, but neither trainer Nick Zito nor jockey Jorge Chavez was disheartened. Both cited the weight as the main difference Saturday.

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Taking full advantage of a perfect trip behind a fast early pace, Victory Ride, the 7-5 favorite, rolled to a 3 1/4-length victory over 2-1 second choice Xtra Heat in the $250,000 Test Stakes at Saratoga.

Trained by George Arnold for owners G. Watts and Louise Humphrey, the 3-year-old Seeking The Gold filly won for the third time in four starts and ran the seven furlongs in 1:21 3/5.

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Making his first start since finishing third in the Dwyer Stakes on July 9, 2000, favored Red Bullet won a seven-furlong allowance race at Saratoga.