From DMTC Publicity
DEL MAR, Calif. (Aug. 29, 2019) — Square Deal, disqualified from victory as a 13-1 longshot in the Graduation Stakes August 2, gained a measure of redemption Friday with a decisive triumph in the featured $100,000 I’m Smokin Stakes for Golden State Series eligible two-year-olds.
With leading rider Flavien Prat in the saddle, Square Deal rallied on the far outside turning into the stretch and went on to score by a length and three-quarters in 1:11.72 for the six furlongs on the main track.
Bluegrass Faith, a 20-1 longshot, outfinished Tap Back for runner-up honors by three-quarters of a length with Pas de Panique checking in fourth in the field of eight runners. Phantom Boss, the 8-5 favorite, was seventh after breaking slowly. Withdrawn from the race were Riding With Dino, El Tigre Terrible and Big Returns.
Square Deal, a son of Square Eddie bred by Thomas Bachman, owned by Arnold Zetcher and Qatar Racing and trained by Simon Callaghan, was a solid second choice at 2-1 and paid $6.40, $4.20 and $2.80 while earning first money of $60,000 with his initial official win in four starts.
“With the speed horses down on the inside it worked out just about as we expected it would,” said Callaghan. “It is a bit of compensation (for DQ 1st to 3rd in the Graduation). We got a split when, of course, we wanted a sweep. This is a nice horse and we think Mr. (Arnold) Zetcher and Quatar Racing will have some fun with him.”
Bluegrass Faith paid $12.60 and $6, while Tap Back returned $3.80 to show.
There were no perfect tickets in Friday’s Pick Six. Thus, Saturday’s program will have a Pick Six carryover of $92,872. Post time for the first of ten races will be 2 p.m.