NEWS

Square Eddie begins Derby trail in San Rafael

Posted: Wednesday, January 14, 2009 6:37 PM

SQUARE EDDIE

Photo by Pat Lang courtesy of Keeneland

by Steve Bailey

Trainer Doug O’Neill thinks he could have one of the early favorites for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) in Grade 1 winner Square Eddie.

The veteran Southern California-based conditioner will know for sure on Saturday when the three-year-old Smart Strike colt takes on seven challengers in the $100,000 San Rafael Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park.

Square Eddie burst onto the United States racing scene with a 4 3/4-length victory in the Lane’s End Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland Race Course only days after being purchased by J. Paul Reddam from European owner David Gorton.

He subsequently finished second, beaten by 1 1/4 lengths by probable champion two-year-old male Midshipman, in the Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at the Arcadia, California, track.

"He's doing fantastic. He looks great, full of energy," O'Neill said on Wednesday. "We gave him 83 days between the Breeders' Cup and the San Rafael, so he's been freshened and he looks ready to roll.”

O’Neill said he is puzzled that Square Eddie was not named one of the three finalists for the Eclipse Award as outstanding two-year-old male, but he has bigger and better things in mind for the colt’s future.

"It's bizarre, but you can't worry about that kind of stuff," O'Neill said. "We have so much confidence in the horse. We think we have one of the top three right now, so I guess that's all that matters.

“Saturday's a big day, and we're hoping for a big effort and [to] see him come out of it good."

Among his primary competitors could be Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Brother Keith, a chestnut Johar colt who won his only previous start by 2 1/4 lengths on November 8 at Churchill Downs. A half brother to Grade 2 winner Kumari Continent and Grade 3 winner Passion, Brother Keith will make his stakes debut in the San Rafael.

"You gotta try him someplace," Racing Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel said. "We'll learn a lot more about him this weekend."

Also entered is Ryehill Dreamer (Ire), who will make his North American debut and first start for new trainer John Shirreffs and new owner Marsha Naify. The Catcher In The Rye colt won the Golden Fleece Stakes and finished second in the Galileo EBF Futurity Stakes (Ire-G2), both in Ireland, as a two-year-old for previous trainer Tommy Stack.

Steve Bailey is deputy news editor for Thoroughbred Times

 

San Rafael S.