THORN'S ECHO

REDDAM’S HOMEBRED B SQUARED PREVAILS BY A NECK IN SATURDAY’S $100,000 THOR’S ECHO HANDICAP UNDER GUTIERREZ; TRAINED BY O’NEILL, HE GETS SIX FURLONGS IN 1:10.09


Reddam Racing’s homebred B Squared parlayed his outside post position into a thrilling neck victory over favored Tough Sunday in Saturday’s $100,000 Thor’s Echo Handicap for Golden State Series eligible three year olds and up at Santa Anita.  Ridden by Mario Gutierrez and trained by Doug O’Neill, the 4-year-old California-bred colt by Square Eddie got six furlongs in 1:10.09.

Breaking on top in a field of five, B Squared settled nicely in third, just off Tough Sunday and longshot Make It a Triple as the field motored to the far turn.  A half length off the lead while three-deep at the quarter pole, B Squared kept to his task and overtook an extra-game Tough Sunday right on the money.

“It was a five-horse field,” said Gutierrez.  “My horse has a lot of speed, but I didn’t want to go head and head with anybody, but at the same time, I didn’t want to leave him too much to do at the end.  I wanted to be within target distance for him as long as he was full of run.  It just worked perfectly today.”

Most recently sixth on a muddy track versus state breds going 6 ½ furlongs in the Sensational Star Stakes here on March 11, B Squared was the third choice at 7-2 and paid $9.20, $3.40 and $2.80.

Out of Reddam’s Ten Most Wanted mare Silar Rules, B Squared notched his third stakes win and improved his overall mark to 15-4-3-2.  With the winner’s share of $60,000, he increased his earnings to $347,128.

“The race set up perfect for us,” said O’Neill.  “Mario rode his race and we were able to get up late.  The Reddams are a big part of the Cal-bred program and B Squared is a great fit.  We always say, once you break your maiden, you’re paid for…It’s like having a free horse.”

Heavily favored Tough Sunday broke a step slow from the rail and had to contend with a tenacious Make It a Triple to the top of the lane and just missed in a heartbreaker under Joe Talamo.  Off at 3-5, Tough Sunday finished 1 ¼ lengths clear of Make It a Triple and paid $2.80 and $2.10.

Ridden by Edwin Maldonado, Make It a Triple, who finished 1 ½ lengths in front of Smokey Image, was off at 9-1 and paid $2.80 to show.

Fractions on the race were 22.42, 45.59 and 57.42.

Racing resumes with a nine-race program on Sunday at Santa Anita.  First post time is at 11:30 a.m. and admission gates open at 10 a.m.