B Squared handles two turns, turf in Silky Sullivan
Although his career is less than two months old, B Squared has accomplished plenty.
A 3-year-old California-bred, B Squared ($5.60) scored his first stakes victory in his third start Sunday, stalking nicely and pulling away in the lane to win the $100,450 Silky Sullivan Stakes at Golden Gate Fields.
B Squared was making his first start on turf and first start around two turns but was still favored in the Cal-bred stakes He lived up to the favoritism with a strong performance.
A son of Square Eddie owned and bred by Redham Racing, B Squared won his March 4 debut at seven furlongs with ease. He then dueled all the way in the 61/2-furlong Echo Eddie, losing by a nose to Mr. Hinx, who wound up fifth Sunday.
Two other rivals from the Echo Eddie took charge of the race early. Tribal Storm set the early pace before Elwood J claimed it at the half-mile pole and stayed on the lead into the stretch.
Jockey Mario Gutierrez sat coolly on B Squared to the stretch, content to run beside Elwood J until reaching the eighth pole. B Squared then showed his superiority, edging away as he won the one-mile race by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:37.56 over Elwood J. Late-running Ninety Nine Proof was third, another length back.
“We broke out of the gate really sharp,” said Gutierrez. “I didn’t have to hustle my horse, and I didn’t have to fight him to relax him. I think that was the key today.
“Turning for home, my horse was a little green, and the horse on the inside kept the fight going which made him motivated.
“My horse was very game. I just called on him. I could feel him pushing forward, and I was not afraid of who was coming after that.”
B Squared earned $60,000 for his first stakes victory and now has a bankroll of $130,400.