Square Eddie: could head to Dubai after comeback win
PICTURE: Equisport Photos/ Matt WooleySquare Eddie back from stud with easy win
Report: USA, Friday
Santa Anita
SQUARE EDDIE (Doug O'Neill/Joel Rosario), a racehorse with more comebacks than Frank Sinatra, returned after more than 12 months on the sidelines following an abortedretirement to win a $59,000 allowance race at Santa Anita on Friday.
Now a five-year-old, the son of Smart Strike recorded a notable success in his two-year-old season for original trainer John Best when landing the Grade 1 Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland on the Polytrack, after which he was second at the Breeders' Cup.
On Friday he broke alertly before overwhelming his rivals on the dirt, scoring by three-and-a-quarter lengths as 5-2 second favourite for the 6½f contest.
"We've had a lot of mental highs and mental lows with Eddie," said owner Paul Reddam. "This is very special today."
Square Eddie's Classic campaign was derailed by a cannonboneinjury and he also suffered breathing disorder before covering 35 mares after being retired to stud.
Looking at the return to racing, trainer Doug O'Neill said: "He seemed healthy finally and he hadn't been that great of a sire. So why not?"
He added: "He had a high suspensory strain and I'll be very interested to see how he looks in the morning-if he's knocked out or body-sore. Hopefully we'll find an empty feed tub and a bright, happy horse. We're thinking big races with him, Santa Anita Handicap or Dubai."
>>The former Barry Hills-trained Diamond Geezah was third behind Celestic Night on his US debut in optional claimer on Thursday's card
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