O'Neill, Gutierrez seek third straight Graduation Stakes win
DEL MAR, Calif. – Two 2-year-olds who were sold at auction after their careers began will race for new connections Wednesday at Del Mar, while the only change for the most likely winner of the $100,000 Graduation Stakes is a new post position.
California Diamond won twice, including a stakes, before he was sold for $125,000 and transferred to trainer Peter Miller. Milton Freewater won his debut, was sold for $250,000, and was transferred to trainer Doug O’Neill.
Meanwhile, the 9-5 Graduation favorite is an O’Neill-trained homebred who never was for sale. Green With Eddie, a Square Eddie colt owned and bred by J. Paul Reddam, gets a beneficial post change that should lead to victory in the 5 1/2-furlong race for 2-year-olds bred in California.
O’Neill, Reddam, and jockey Mario Gutierrez seek a third straight Graduation win. Mrazek won in 2015, and Wake Up Nick won in 2014. As for the lasting significance of the Graduation, well, it was won in 2013 by a then-unheralded 2-year-old named California Chrome.
Seven entered the Graduation. In addition to the three principals, the field includes Sizzlin Square, Tchula Sunset, Dutt Bart, and Exotic Ghost.
Graduation Stakes
KEY CONTENDERS
Green With Eddie, by Square Eddie
Last 2 Beyers: 75-73
◗ His debut victory June 3 at Santa Anita in 51.54 seconds was the fastest of the Santa Anita spring meet at 4 1/2 furlongs.
◗ Green With Eddie was compromised by post position when he finished second as the favorite in the Santa Anita Juvenile on July 9. He set the pace inside, hounded by outside pressure, dug in late, and was worn down by California Diamond.
◗ A change in post position – Green With Eddie moves to the outside post – should allow Gutierrez to press the pace in the clear rather than rushing to the front. At the very least, Green With Eddie is likely to turn the tables on California Diamond.
California Diamond, by Harbor the Gold
Last 2 Beyers: 78-65
◗ John Brocklebank was the original trainer for California Diamond, who won his June 17 debut at Santa Anita by more than two lengths.
◗ He followed with an upset win in the Santa Anita Juvenile, pressing the pace three wide in the clear and wearing down Green With Eddie late. In both starts, California Diamond broke from an outside post. He breaks from post 3 on Wednesday.
◗ California Diamond was sold for $125,000 to Rockingham Ranch at the July 23 Paddock Sale at Del Mar of horses of racing age. The Graduation is his first start since the sale and his first for Miller. Edwin Maldonado retains the mount.
Milton Freewater, by Creative Cause
Last Beyer: 65
◗ Patty Harrington was the original trainer for Milton Freewater, who won his April 22 debut at Los Alamitos over next-out winner Alpenhorn.
◗ Milton Freewater subsequently was sold for $250,000 to a partnership at the Barretts May sale.
◗ His campaign was interrupted by sore shins. He did not work for one month from June 19 to July 17. The Graduation is his second career start, his first for O’Neill, and his first with jockey Rafael Bejarano.