Del Mar: Sprouts heads 1-2 for Reddam in California Thoroughbred Breeders Association Stakes

DEL MAR, Calif. – Sprouts and Eddies Curl gave owner Paul Reddam and trainer Edward Freeman a sweep of the exacta in Friday’s $100,250 California Thoroughbred Breeders Association Stakes at Del Mar, but only after the stewards reviewed Eddies Curl’s action shortly after the start.

Eddies Curl broke from post 4 and lugged to the inside leaving the gate, causing Pay the Debt and Evening News to be checked. The stewards ruled that Evening News had stumbled at the start and was not cost a better placing by Eddies Curl and that the interference to Pay the Debt was minimal.

Sprouts gave jockey Mario Gutierrez his first stakes win at Del Mar. Gutierrez is best known for winning the 2012 Kentucky Derby on the Reddam-owned I’ll Have Another.

The first two finishers were bred by Reddam and are by his freshman stallion Square Eddie.

[DEL MAR 2013: Complete meet coverage, schedule, race replays]

Leading throughout, Sprouts ($2.80) led by a half-length on the turn and pulled clear in early stretch to lead by two lengths with a furlong remaining. Sprouts won by 1 1/2 lengths over Eddies Curl, a maiden who closed from third in the field of seven. Say’s Who finished third, followed by Time for Angie, Harlington’s Rose, Pay the Debt, and Evening News in the field of California-bred 2-year-old fillies.

Sprouts ran 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:05.01 after setting fractions of 22.30 and 46.10 seconds. Gutierrez said the filly had no difficultly facing an early test from Harlington’s Rose in the opening quarter-mile before taking a clear lead.

“She was very comfortable,” Gutierrez said. “It was the first time that she had that pressure. I think it will help her. She’ll be familiar with horses on her outside.”

Sprouts has won 3 of 4 starts and $149,240. After finishing fifth in her debut at Betfair Hollywood Park in late April, Sprouts won her next two starts at that meeting – a maiden race for California-bred fillies on May 16 and the Cinderella Stakes against open company June 15.

Reddam said that Sprouts will be pointed to the $300,000 Del Mar Debutante, a Grade 1 stakes over seven furlongs, on Aug. 31.