ARCADIA, Calif. – On the day it was worth the most, First Peace ran the best race of his career in Saturday’s Grade 2 Eddie D Stakes at Santa Anita. Closing from eighth in the final three furlongs, First Peace won the richest race of his career in the $753,000 Eddie D Stakes at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course. Ridden by Mike Smith, First Peace rallied on the inside in the stretch to win by 1 1/2 lengths over 6-1 Air Force Red. King of Gosford (9-1) closed steadily through the stretch on the outside to finish third in the field of 11. Sent off favored, First Peace ($5.80) won the third stakes of his career in the richest running of the Eddie D Stakes. For many of his 15 starts, First Peace ran near the pace. In recent starts, he has raced from farther back. Such a strategy was vital Saturday, Smith said. “He’s learning how to relax and learning how to rate,” Smith said. “He loves the hill.” :: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match + FREE All Access PPs! Join DRF Bets. First Peace was timed in 1:11.56 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 95. The outsiders Fast Buck and Boss Sully contributed to a quick pace of 21.64 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 43.52 for a half-mile. Fast Buck was in front to the final furlong before fading. First Peace did not reach contention until the field crossed over the dirt track and onto the main turf course. “We’ve been working on him coming from behind,” Smith said. “If he can do that, it will prolong his career instead doing the all the dirty work.” Air Force Red, winner of the Grade 2 Joe Hernandez Stakes on the hillside turf course in December 2022, closed well to finish second under jockey Juan Hernandez. “There was a lot of pace,” Hernandez said. “I was waiting to cross the dirt before I made my move. It opened up for me. He made a nice effort. Today, he showed up.” Big Invasion, winner of the Harvey Pack Stakes for turf sprinters on Sept. 2 at Saratoga, closed from sixth to finish fourth, and was followed by Fast Buck, Johnny Podres, Two Rivers Over, Boss Sully, Noble Reflection, Eamonn, and Step Forward. First Peace, a 4-year-old colt by the More Than Ready stallion Funtastic, races for the partnership of Rancho Temescal, Red Baron’s Barn, and Rodney Orr and trainer Mark Glatt. The win in the Eddie D Stakes was First Peace’s third win on the hillside turf course. He won the John Shear Stakes on the hillside turf course in April 2023 and was beaten a nose in the Desert Code Stakes on the same course in May 2023. First Peace has won 5 of 15 starts and earned $778,520. The win on Saturday was worth $450,000. The purse of the Eddie D Stakes was enhanced by Santa Anita’s parent company, 1/ST Racing, in an effort to boost the national profile of Saturday’s program with nationwide bettors. Ontrack, the track offered extensive music and food promotions to lure a larger crowd. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.