Square Eddie in his comeback season, eyes the Ancient Title at Santa Anita
It has been hard work for Paul Reddam owned 5-year-old horse, Square Eddie, to sit in retirement, as he emerges for a second time this year, and this time he takes aim at the Grade 1 Ancient Title, to be held on 8 October, 2011, at Santa Anita Park.
At the time being, the son of Smart Strike, out of Forty Gran by El Gran Senor, Square Eddie is busy preparing for the Santa Anita feature race, as he worked a bullet three furlongs in 35.60 seconds at Santa Anita on 18 September, 2011.
Square Eddie prepared for a probable start in the Grade 1 $250,000 Ancient Title Stakes, which will be run over a distance of six furlongs.
If the older horse decides to go for the Grade 1 status, he will have to contend with the Bob Baffert trained Euroears and the W. Spawr trained Amazombie, because both of them are listed possible for the Santa Anita dash.
Furthermore, Square Eddie did not stop after a bullet three furlongs, as he added a couple more on his work tab, turning in a complete workout session of five furlongs, as trainer Doug O’Neill clocked the horse at 1 minute and 1 second.
Prior to the 2011 season, Square Eddie last ran for owner Paul Reddam in 2009, and that season was a frustrating one for both, the horse and his connections, because it was a six-race dry spell.
In the 2008 Breeders’ Cup, Square Eddie turned some heads when he went on to win the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland at about 1 1/16 miles.
He covered the distance in 1 minute and 43.04 seconds, downing rivals like Terrain and Pioneer of the Nile.
His second race in the Breeders’ Cup and the last race of the 2008 season was the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita on 25 October, 2008, where he finished a close second behind Midshipman.
Square Eddie won or finished on the cards in eight races out of sixteen career starts, with a bankroll of $854,766.
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