Square Eddie Wins Ticket to Breeders’ Cup
Buying a horse can be a huge investment to some, and over the years Paul Reddam has proved that he has a keen eye for identifying winners and horses with potential. A horse in England caught Reddam’s attention, as he showed determination and heart in all his horse racing events, placing a gutsy second in the Toteswinger Sirenia Stakes and winning in Salisburg, which was his first victory in three career starts. Reddam began negotiations to purchase Square Eddie. While on a plane from England to America, negotiations were concluded and Square Eddie had a new owner before touch down.
It was not just potential and racing talent that Reddam saw in Square Eddie. His pedigree almost speaks for itself, as his sire, Smart Strike, also sired champions such as the current Horse of the Year Curlin, and he is out of Forty Gran. Paul Reddam flew to the Keeneland Racecourse on Saturday to watch his new horse perform in the Grade 1 $500 000 Lane’s End Breeders’ Futurity. He also invited Doug O’Neill, as he will be the new trainer of Square Eddie, and both men were ecstatic about Square Eddie’s breathtaking performance.
Reddam and O’Neill went to the barn to take a look at Square Eddie before the running of the Lane’s End Breeders’ Futurity. They noticed he was relaxed and confident, but could never have guessed that he would switch on such astounding power in the turn, to open up a gap of more than four lengths between him and the contenders, leaving jockey Rafael Bejarano to hold on and enjoy the ride. Bejarano commented after the race that there was no stopping Square Eddie, even if he had tried. Square Eddie was followed home by Terrain in second position and Pioneer of the Nile in third.
By winning the Lane’s End Breeders’ Futurity, Square Eddie has secured his place in the Grade 1 $2 million Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. O’Neill will be getting him ready for this massive event and it seems the Bejarano will be given the opportunity to try and repeat Saturday’s performance at Santa Anita. Reddam, satisfied with the outcome, commented: “When we went back to the barn to see him before the race, he was calm and composed and we joked he looked like a baby Curlin since they are by the same sire. We weren’t really sure what to expect, but needless to say we are very pleased.”
