Photo from Doug O’Neill Racing Stable
From DMTC
DEL MAR, Calif. (Aug. 3, 2016) — For the third consecutive year, the owner-trainer-jockey combination of J. Paul Reddam, Doug O’Neill and Mario Gutierrez won Del Mar’s $100,000 Graduation Stakes as 6-5 favored Green With Eddie easily triumphed in the 5 ½ furlong contest for Golden State Series eligible two-year-olds Wednesday.
Following the example of Wake Up Nick in 2014 and Mrazek last summer, Green With Eddie powered home three and one-quarter lengths in front of 3-2 second choice California Diamond, with Milton Freewater, his stablemate from O’Neill’s barn, checking in third in the field of six juvenile runners. Dutt Bart was withdrawn from the original line-up.
“I wasn’t worried about him being four wide because this time he was able to kind of track and attack as opposed to being the target,” said O’Neill. “Mario rode a perfect race and (Green With Eddie) ran super. Square Eddie (the sire) keeps producing. To me, he’s good enough that he could stand in Kentucky, Florida or anywhere. We’re so blessed to have him out here. (Square Eddie progeny) are all runners. They’ll run on anything, dirt or turf and short or long, it doesn’t matter.”
Green With Eddie, a son of Square Eddie bred by Reddam, sped the distance in 1:03.62 and returned $4.60, $2.60 and $2.10 after his second win in three career starts. The bay colt broke his maiden in his first start at Santa Anita in early June and was narrowly beaten when second in the subsequent Santa Anita Juvenile. First money of $57,000 increased the youngster’s earnings to $115,600.
“There was a lot of speed in the race and I got to pick my spot,” said Gutierrez. “This horse is young; he’s still learning. But he’s a nice horse and he’s got a lot of room to improve. He’s developing and I think he’ll continue to do so.”
Runner-up California Diamond paid $2.60 and $2.20, while Milton Freewater returned $2.40 to show. The stakes win was also the third in a row in the Graduation for owner J. Paul Reddam and his Reddam Racing. Reddam bred both Green With Eddie and last year’s winner, Mrazek, by his stallion Square Eddie.