Square Eddie to Run in San Rafael Stakes

Square Eddie, who worked six furlongs Dec. 29 at Hollywood Park in a sharp 1:12 2/5 for trainer Doug O’Neill, is scheduled to stay in California for his next race. The Canadian-bred Smart Strike   colt, owned by Paul Reddam, will make his next start in Santa Anita’s San Rafael Stakes (gr. III) Jan. 17, according to O’Neill.

“He’ll run in the San Rafael,” O’Neill said, “and then he’ll probably go out of town for a dirt race somewhere.”

The San Rafael will be decided Jan. 17 on Santa Anita’s synthetic track. Square Eddie has competed on the turf and synthetic tracks to date. He won one of three starts on the turf in England before taking the Lane’s End Breeders’ Futurity (gr. I) Oct. 4 on Keeneland’s Polytrack.

After his Keeneland victory, Square Eddie finished second to Midshipman in the Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I) Oct. 25 on Santa Anita’s Pro-Ride surface during the Oak Tree meet. The colt’s connections elected to skip the CashCall Futurity (gr. I) at Hollywood Park Dec. 20 with him.

Square Eddie’s Dec. 29 drill was termed “awesome” by O’Neill, who said he timed the colt galloping out seven furlongs in 1:25 4/5. Exercise rider Tony Romero was aboard Square Eddie for the workout.

O’Neill characterizes Square Eddie as “very athletic looking” and said that the colt has “a very long stride.”