By Bloodhorse.com
DEL MAR, Calif. (Sept. 3, 2022) — Blinkers on, blinkers off. Two turns, one turn. Dirt, turf.
Reddam Racing’s California-bred Slow Down Andy has done it all this year as trainer Doug O’Neill has been on a relentless pursuit to unveil the talent the colt has consistently shown him from day one.
In the Sept. 3 $302,000 Caesars Sportbook Del Mar Derby (G2T), the 3-year-old son of Nyquist turned in one of his finest performances yet. This time, sans blinkers and traveling 1 1/8 miles on the turf for the first time.
The one constant throughout Slow Down Andy’s career has been rider Mario Gutierrez, who has ridden the multiple graded stakes winner in every one of his seven starts since he scored in his debut last October at Santa Anita Park. Gutierrez regularly rides for Reddam Racing.
And so when it appeared there were no takers for the early lead once the gates opened, Gutierrez didn’t hesitate to send Slow Down Andy forward to seize the advantage. Under a loose rein, Gutierrez allowed the colt to cruise comfortably on the front end while the pair set a controlled opening quarter mile in :24.13 and half-mile in :48.77. With only 68-1 shot Spycatcher and Cinema Stakes winner War at Sea on his flank rounding the final turn, Slow Down Andy cut the corner and staved off his rivals in the drive for the wire.
Stopping the clock in 1:48.27 on a firm Del Mar turf course, Slow Down Andy ($15.40) prevailed by a half-length over a game Spycatcher with War At Sea another half-length back in third to complete the trifecta.
“He broke good, and I didn’t feel any pressure, so I just let him go and waited for the end,” Gutierrez said. “In the stretch, he responded so well that he gave me the good impression that he still had something underneath me.
“This horse is a little tricky. When he runs with his mind focused on the race, you can see what happens. Hopefully, he’s maturing. Of course, this was his first time on the grass and you can ask this question about whether they like it, but we just don’t know until they run.”
Favored Balnikhov , hailing from the mighty Phil D’Amato barn, came flying late down the center of the track but could only settle for fourth.
Slow Down Andy registered his third graded stakes victory on Saturday, having taken the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) as a juvenile and the Sunland Park Derby (G3) in the spring of this year before being sidelined and missing the Kentucky Derby with a virus. The winner in half of his eight career outings, Slow Down Andy has bankrolled $783,100 in earnings.
“We’ve always had faith in him,” O’Neill said. “He was our Kentucky Derby (G1) dream not too long ago so why not the Del Mar Derby?”
Although the Square Eddie mare Edwina E failed to win in her two starts on the track for Paul Reddam, she has since produced two stakes winners from three foals to race. In addition to Slow Down Andy, she is the dam of this year’s Bill Thomas Memorial Stakes winner and $250,490 earner Team Merchants , also by Nyquist. Edwina E’s youngest offspring is an unraced 2-year-old colt by I’ll Have Another . She was bred back to Nyquist this spring.