The win brought Formidable Man’s turf record at Del Mar to a sparkling 5-for-5, a stat that trainer Mike McCarthy couldn’t overlook. “He loves Del Mar. I think he might be undefeated down here,” McCarthy said post-race. That love affair with the San Diego turf now includes Grade I and Grade II titles — an elite resume that continues to grow.
A Seaside Specialist
Having already captured the Grade I Hollywood Derby last fall and the Grade I Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita earlier this year, Formidable Man added another feather to his cap. Last summer, he had kickstarted his Del Mar campaign with wins in the Oceanside Stakes and the Grade II Del Mar Derby, making Sunday’s result feel like a homecoming coronation.
In Sunday’s nine-furlong feature, Rispoli rode with quiet confidence. Breaking smoothly, he allowed the colt to settle just behind the pace alongside Stay Hot, biding his time until a rail seam appeared turning for home. With a swift turn of foot, Formidable Man burst through and pulled away, stopping the clock at 1:48.55 on firm turf.
Rispoli and McCarthy Deliver Again
“It seems like when Michael took the blinkers off, he became a more tactical horse,” Rispoli explained. “You can ride him wherever you want. I was just waiting for the gap, and he did the rest. He’s made a huge improvement since he was two. He’s become a really solid soldier.”
That assessment echoed on the trainer’s side. “There was an anxious moment or two,” McCarthy admitted. “But Umberto found the gap, and once he leveled off, you could see how much he wanted it.”
The victory was Rispoli’s second stakes win of the meet and his second in the Eddie Read (he won in 2024 with Johannes), pushing his stakes tally at Del Mar to 37. For McCarthy, it marked his first stakes score of the summer and his inaugural Eddie Read title, his 15th stakes win overall at the venue.
Formidable Man Eyes Millionaire Status
With Sunday’s $150,000 winner’s check, Formidable Man has now amassed $985,425 in career earnings — just shy of the seven-figure milestone. His record stands at 7 wins from 14 starts, all on turf, and each with the signature stamp of a horse that thrives under Southern California skies.
The Eddie Read lost some firepower with the scratches of defending champion Gold Phoenix and multiple-stakes winner Atitlan. But Formidable Man made sure the six-horse field still offered drama. Cabo Spirit, the pacesetter for Kretz Racing, held well for second, finishing one and three-quarter lengths ahead of Stay Hot.
Fractions for the race were: :24.97, :49.00, 1:13.64, 1:37.32, and a final time of 1:48.55. The favorite returned $3.60 to his backers.
Del Mar Resumes Thursday
Racing takes a brief pause at Del Mar and returns Thursday with a 2 p.m. first post. With turf stars like Formidable Man anchoring the meet, expectations remain sky-high heading into August.
Owned by Mr. and Mrs. W.K. Warren, Jr. of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and trained by McCarthy, Formidable Man is now firmly established as one of America’s premier turf runners. As Del Mar unfolds, fans will be watching closely to see where he lands next — and whether his love affair with the seaside oval continues unbroken.
For more on summer turf heroes, and track actions check out our International news section.
