Slow Down Andy speeds away from Messier in Los Alamitos Futurity
CYPRESS, Calif. – Slow Down Andy is named for a friend of Paul Reddam who moves a bit too quickly out on the golf course, but if his equine namesake moves fast, it’ll work out just fine, as it did on Saturday when Slow Down Andy turned back heavily favored Messier to capture the Grade 2, $300,000 Los Alamitos Futurity.
Slow Down Andy was last in the five-horse field midway through the race, launched a wide rally on the final turn to move outside of Messier, then prevailed after a spirited stretch drive and was coming away at the end. He was best by one length, with Messier nine lengths clear of Barossa.
Durante was fourth, and Olympic Legend trailed.
Slow Down Andy, trained by Doug O’Neill, completed 1 1/16 miles on the fast main track in 1:42.33.
Slow Down Andy ($12.40), the third choice, was making his third start, but only his first around two turns and his first against open company after prior starts against fellow California-breds. In fact, he was considered for the King Glorious, the closing-day feature on Sunday – which is restricted to Cal-breds – but Reddam decided he wanted to go for the major, graded prize.
“I think everybody thought I was crazy, but they were too polite to say anything,” he said.
Slow Down Andy won his debut sprinting at Santa Anita in October, then finished second as the favorite in the Golden State Juvenile at Del Mar last month on Breeders’ Cup Friday.
“He showed us in the beginning he was a nice horse,” Reddam said. “We were scratching our heads after his last start.”
Slow Down Andy was ridden cleverly by Mario Gutierrez, who was able to drop in heading to the first turn to save ground. As the field neared the far turn, Gutierrez took Slow Down Andy outside of a three-ply battle for the lead, and at the top of the long stretch Slow Down Andy and Messier separated themselves from the field.
At midstretch, Slow Down Andy ducked in and allowed Messier to inherit the lead, but Slow Down Andy re-engaged and proved best late.
“He’s a young horse, third start, still learning, but he’s got the heart of a champion,” Gutierrez said.
Messier was favored at 1-2 off a resume that included a victory in the Grade 3 Bob Hope at Del Mar last month. This was his first two-turn try, and his rider, Flavien Prat, offered no significant excuses for the loss.
“I wish he would have relaxed a little better,” he said. “He was a little tough, but not enough to use as an excuse.”
Slow Down Andy was bred and is owned by Reddam and his wife, Zillah. He is by Nyquist, a Reddam horse who won the Kentucky Derby, and is out of the mare Edwina E, who is by another Reddam stallion, Square Eddie.
“For him to be by Nyquist is icing on the cake,” Reddam said.
Reddam said he named Slow Down Andy for his friend Andy Redmond.
“He’ll go out and hit out of turn, which impacts our gambling,” Reddam said. “I was trying to send a message with this horse.”
Slow Down Andy earned a first prize of $180,000, which will buy a few rounds at the 19th hole. The win also was worth 10 points towards a berth in the 2022 Kentucky Derby. Reddam has won the Derby twice, with Nyquist and I’ll Have Another, both ridden by Gutierrez, both trained by O’Neill.
They know how to hit it straight, and hit it long.