From Santa Anita Publicity
ARCADIA, Calif. (June 21, 2015)–Reddam Racing’s homebred and California-bred sons of Square Eddie dominated Sunday’s $125,000 Santa Anita Juvenile, as the Doug O’Neill-conditioned twosome of Found Money and Mrazek ran 1-2, with Found Money proving best by 1 ¾ lengths under Corey Nakatani. Out of the General Meeting mare Chanel My Belle, Found Money covered 5 ½ furlongs in 1:04.24.
“This absolutely makes me feel proud,” said J. Paul Reddam, who along with his wife, Zillah, keeps 35 broodmares in California. (Reddam Racing has won seven races at the current stand with homebred 2-year-olds–with five of them by Square Eddie). “I’m telling you, Ed Freeman did a great job preparing these 2-year-olds and that’s a big part of this. Plus, we did believe in the stallion, Square Eddie…He’s on fire right now and there are more coming that we’re excited about.”
Off at 9-2 in a field of six, Found Money, who was lapped on his stablemate into and around the far turn, paid $11.80, $6.00 and $4.00. A first-out California-bred maiden special weight winner here going 4 ½ furlongs on May 15, Found Money is a perfect two for two, and with the winner’s share of $75,000, he more than doubled his earnings to $108,600.
“Going into the race we thought Found Money might be pushing the pace and Mrazek would be sitting in the garden spot and maybe make a move, but lo and behold, here we are one-two down the backside,” said O’Neill. “We’ve got all kinds of options for future races. I think it’s exciting. I think they’ll both stretch out. I think they’ll (like) turf. The sky’s the limit…We’ve just got to keep them sound and there are a lot of fun things ahead.”
Nakatani, who also rode Grade I stakes winner Square Eddie, was understandably pleased with Found Money’s effort.
“What a tremendous horse,” he said. “We felt my horse, Found Money, was quicker than his stablemate and we got away great. There wasn’t too much heat on the inside, so he was able to be comfortable. It’s a tribute to Doug and his team because this horse is like an old pro. He made my job pretty easy.”
Breaking from the rail with Mario Gutierrez, Mrazek finished 2 ¼ lengths clear of longshot Xingontothebone. Off at 7-2, Mrazek paid $5.60 and $3.60.
Breaking from the far outside, Xingontothebone was caught four wide off the turn for home and proved third best under Edwin Maldonado. Off at 18-1, he finished 2 ¼ lengths clear of Swiss Minister and paid $4.40 to show.
Fractions on the race were 22.18, 45.26 and 57.50.