The afternoon sun blazed down over the iconic grandstands of Santa Anita Park on Saturday, baking the firm turf course in 93-degree heat and setting the stage for a blistering renewal of the Grade 2, $200,000 Eddie D Stakes. Amidst the sweltering conditions, a compelling narrative unfolded on the unique downhill turf course, where turf sprinters tested their mettle over approximately 6 1/2 furlongs of undulating terrain, inclines, and turns.
Emerging victorious from a dramatic and hard-fought battle was the post-time favorite, Sorrento Sky (IRE). The 5-year-old Irish-bred gelding, expertly handled by veteran jockey Umberto Rispoli and conditioned by prominent trainer Phil D’Amato, put on a tactical masterclass. Overcoming a slow start that left him sitting second-to-last in a field of seven, Sorrento Sky unleashed a dazzling, three-wide late surge down the stretch to collar his rivals in the final sixteenth of a mile, securing a definitive victory by roughly a length and etching his name into the storied history of the prestigious sprint event.
Main Facts of the Race
The Eddie D Stakes, a pivotal race on the Southern California calendar for turf sprint specialists, lived up to its high-octane reputation. Sent off as the 2-1 public choice, Sorrento Sky rewarded his backers by stopping the clock in a final time of 1:12.30 over the firm, fast-playing turf. The victory marked the second consecutive graded-stakes score for the son of Prince of Lir, who continues to establish himself as a dominant force in the turf sprint division.
Behind the winner, the battle for minor placings provided ample excitement for the on-track patrons and wagering public. The 7-year-old gelding Sumter, sent off at odds of 3-1 and guided by Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, tracked the leaders from a comfortable mid-pack position before launching a sustained late bid to secure the runner-up spot. Early pacesetter Amorita, a 4-year-old filly dispatched at 11-1 under jockey Kazushi Kimura, fought tenaciously on the front end and dug deep in the stretch to hold onto third place.
Completing the superfecta was another D’Amato trainee, Later Than Planned, who crossed the finish line in fourth under the guidance of jockey Héctor Berrios at odds of 14-1. The race was slightly altered prior to the gate-loading process due to strategic scratches, most notably Virat—who had been cross-entered in the upcoming Great West Turf Sprint on Sunday at Remington Park—along with Freedom’s Not Free, leaving a competitive core of seven runners to contest the prize.
Chronology and Race Day Flow
As the starting gates swung open for the approximately 6 1/2-furlong test, the tempo of the race was immediately dictated by speed. Amorita seized the initiative under Kazushi Kimura, flashing brilliant early foot to clear the field and establish command as the runners navigated the sweeping layout of the downhill course.
The early fractions were scorching, reflecting both the eagerness of the front-runners and the firm, fast nature of the turf course. Amorita blazed through the opening quarter-mile in an exceptionally sharp 21.99 seconds, stretching the field out along the backstretch. As the runners pressed on through the middle stages of the race, the half-mile marker was reached in an equally blistering 43.76 seconds.
While the early leaders engaged in a speed duel upfront, jockey Umberto Rispoli maintained a cool and calculated demeanor aboard Sorrento Sky. Settling his mount near the rear of the compact field—racing in sixth position out of seven runners—Rispoli patiently bided his time, allowing the fast early pace to work to his advantage.
As the field crossed the dirt path and prepared to swing into the stretch, the fractions had taken their toll on the front-runners, with the three-quarter split arriving in 1:06.33. It was at this crucial juncture that Rispoli tipped Sorrento Sky out into the clear, initiating a sweeping three-wide rally. Striding powerfully with every bound, the Irish import gobbled up ground rapidly. With measured acceleration, Sorrento Sky forged past a tiring Amorita and swept to the front inside the sixteenth pole, drawing clear under a hand ride to secure the victory by a measured length.
Supporting Data and Historical Context
The triumph in Saturday’s Eddie D Stakes further embellishes an already impressive and hard-fought racing resume for Sorrento Sky. Bred in Ireland by the Prince of Lir, the gelding is campaigned by a formidable ownership syndicate comprising CYBT, Saul Gevertz, Michael Nentwig, the Benowitz family, McLean Racing Stables, and Marc Lantzman.
Sorrento Sky’s journey to graded-stakes success has been characterized by steady progression and resilience. Prior to his breakthrough performance on August 22, when he captured the Grade 2, five-furlong Green Flash Handicap at Del Mar, the gelding had shown flashes of brilliance mixed with tough competition. Notably, Sorrento Sky finished a commendable third in the previous iteration of the Eddie D Stakes in 2025, laying the groundwork for his redemption and triumph this year.
With Saturday’s $120,000 winner’s share added to his bankroll, Sorrento Sky’s career record stands at an admirable 22 starts with 6 victories, 4 seconds, and 6 third-place finishes. His ability to handle varying distances within the sprint division—ranging from five furlongs up to the unique 6 1/2-furlong configuration of Santa Anita’s downhill layout—underscores his versatility and soundness as an elite turf athlete.
Furthermore, the afternoon’s climate played a notable supporting role in the day’s events. With ambient temperatures soaring to a sweltering 93 degrees Fahrenheit, horsemen and track maintenance crews faced the challenge of managing equine welfare under intense heat conditions. The fast-playing, baked turf course produced swift times, requiring optimal conditioning and hydration management for every competitor in the paddock.
Official Responses and Connections’ Reactions
In the winner’s circle, the atmosphere was one of profound satisfaction and vindication, particularly for trainer Phil D’Amato, who successfully managed a multi-horse onslaught in the race. D’Amato’s tactical strategy, executed to near perfection by his jockeys, yielded a victory with Sorrento Sky and a strong fourth-place finish with Later Than Planned.
While official post-race press conferences often highlight the immediate physical toll of the race, unspoken synergy between trainer and rider was evident in the seamless execution of Sorrento Sky’s late-running style. Umberto Rispoli, known for his tactical intelligence on the Southern California circuit, praised the gelding’s professionalism and willingness to accelerate when asked for his best.
"He’s a horse that knows his job and possesses a tremendous turn of foot when things set up for him," analytical observers noted regarding Rispoli’s patient ride. By refusing to rush the horse during the blistering opening fractions of 21.99 and 43.76 seconds, Rispoli preserved Sorrento Sky’s stamina for the critical final furlong, where endurance ultimately triumphed over early speed.
Owners Michael Nentwig and Saul Gevertz, representing the broad ownership collective, watched proudly as their investment continued to pay dividends at the highest level of North American turf racing. For a syndicate heavily invested in quality racing stock, watching an Ireland-bred purchase mature into a graded-stakes winner on the major West Coast circuit represents the pinnacle of their partnership goals.
Broader Impact and Implications
The 2025 edition of the Grade 2 Eddie D Stakes serves as more than just a lucrative afternoon fixture on the Santa Anita calendar; it acts as a crucial bellwether for the remainder of the autumn turf sprint division in California and beyond.
As racing fans and handicappers look ahead to the championship meetings later in the year, Sorrento Sky has firmly inserted himself into conversations regarding divisional leadership. His back-to-back graded victories in the Green Flash Handicap at Del Mar and now the Eddie D Stakes at Santa Anita demonstrate an elite level of consistency that is rare among turf sprinters, a division notoriously prone to volatility and upsets.
Moreover, the race highlights the continued success of European-bred imports in North American turf races. Horses bred and initially conditioned overseas frequently display an innate adaptability to firm turf courses and complex track layouts, such as Santa Anita’s downhill chute. Sorrento Sky’s victory adds another chapter to this ongoing trend, proving that European turf stamina combined with American sprint pacing can yield exceptional results.
For trainer Phil D’Amato, the success reinforces his barn’s reputation as a premier destination for turf talent. Managing a stable that consistently contends in major grass stakes requires meticulous attention to detail, particularly when preparing horses for demanding conditions like Saturday’s 93-degree heat.
As Sorrento Sky cools out and his connections map out his next campaign objectives, the racing community will undoubtedly keep a close eye on the talented gelding. Whether his connections decide to target end-of-year championship events or seek international engagements, his performance in the Eddie D Stakes has cemented his status as a formidable competitor in the upper echelon of turf sprinting. The memory of his explosive, three-wide charge under the afternoon sun will long endure as one of the defining highlights of the Santa Anita meeting.
