Gomo gives Reddams eighth recent juvenile win

ARCADIA, Calif. – The 2-year-old filly Gomo gave owners Paul and Zillah Reddam a remarkable eighth win with a juvenile in the last two months when the filly led throughout a one-mile turf race for maidens Thursday.

Ridden by Mario Gutierrez for trainer Doug O’Neill, Gomo ($2.80) never was urged through the stretch and won by 5 1/4 lengths in 1:39.90.

Even though Gomo was a convincing winner on turf, O’Neill plans a return to dirt racing for the filly. He considers her a candidate for the $200,000 Sorrento Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs Aug. 12. As for long-term plans, O’Neill said Gomo, who is by Uncle Mo, should thrive around two turns.

“She’s probably best going two turns,” he said. “She’s always been nice but never been super quick. The filly wants to go longer.”

On June 21, the Reddams and O’Neill teamed to win the $125,250 Santa Anita Juvenile with Found Money, a candidate for the $200,000 Best Pal Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs Aug. 8.

On Thursday, O’Neill said his older brother, Dave, died in Hawaii after a two-year battle with cancer. Dave O’Neill, who was in the mortgage business, was 57. Dave O’Neill did not have a direct involvement in racing other than following his brother’s stable.

“They told him two years ago that he had a year to live,” Doug O’Neill said.

Doug O’Neill is the youngest of four brothers. His brother Danny died in 1998 of melanoma. Another brother, Dennis, a bloodstock agent who works closely with Doug O’Neill, was treated for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2006.