Net Par holds off King Kameha to win Graduation Stakes
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Net Par continued the widespread success for owners and breeders Paul and Zillah Reddam at Del Mar this summer with a narrow win in Friday’s $100,500 Graduation Stakes for 2-year-old California-breds.
Net Par, ridden by Juan Hernandez, stalked the pace before taking the lead with a three-wide move in the stretch. Net Par ($11.80) held off a late surge from 9-2 King Kameha to win by nose.
Net Par ran 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:04.82.
Early Encore, the 2-5 favorite on the strength of an impressive 7 3/4-length win in a maiden race on July 18, disputed the pace with 52-1 Fumano’s Fire through early fractions of 21.68 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 45.51 for a half-mile.
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Fumano’s Fire led briefly on the turn before Net Par reached the front with less than a furlong remaining. King Kameha, fourth on the turn, closed well from fifth in a field of seven, finishing 1 1/4 lengths in front of Early Encore.
Fumano’s Fire faded to finish fourth, followed by Prime Listing, Prime Splash, and Jonny’s Cap. Phone Booth, owned by the Reddams and trained by Doug O’Neill, was withdrawn in favor of a start in Saturday’s Grade 3 Best Pal Stakes.
Net Par, trained by Antonio Garcia, won for the second time in three starts. After finishing third behind King Kameha and Fumano’s Fire in a five-furlong maiden race for statebreds at Santa Anita on June 14, Net Par won his second start on July 18.
Horses bred and owned by the Reddams have won seven races at the current Del Mar meeting, which began on July 17. Net Par was the stable’s third stakes win of the season, all in races for California-breds, preceded by She’s No Quant in the Fleet Treat Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on July 24 and Free Closer in the CTBA Stakes for 2-year-old fillies on Aug. 2.
“Most of the ones you breed don’t have much success, so when one punches through, it’s really exciting,” Reddam said in the winner’s circle.
Six of the seven horses that have won at Del Mar this summer for the Reddams are by Pavel.
“It’s been kind of crazy,” Paul Reddam said. “He doesn’t have that many in his crop. I don’t know if it will continue, but we’ll enjoy it now.”