Square Deal gets ideal setup in I'm Smokin Stakes

DEL MAR, Calif. – Square Deal, disqualified from victory in the Graduation Stakes four weeks earlier, rallied outside rivals and stayed out there on Friday, not allowing for any disputes, as he rolled to a clear-cut, 1 3/4-length victory in the $100,702 I’m Smokin Stakes at Del Mar.

Both the Graduation and I’m Smokin are for 2-year-olds bred in California. Had Square Deal not lost the Graduation in the stewards’ stand, he would have swept both of the stakes.

As in the Graduation, Square Deal ($6.40) came around rivals, this time in the four path on the far turn. But unlike last time, when he was ridden by Norberto Arroyo Jr., he did not drift in under the meet’s leading rider, Flavien Prat. Bluegrass Faith, a 20-1 shot, outfought Tap Back by three-quarters of a length for second.

Phantom Boss, the 8-5 favorite, stumbled at the start and wound up seventh in the field of eight. Riding With Dino, El Tigre Terrible, and Big Returns – who was put up in the Graduation – were scratched earlier in the day.

Square Deal completed six furlongs on the fast main track in 1:11.72.

The race set up well for Square Deal, who was sixth early while Shady Empire and Bluegrass Faith sped through the first quarter in 21.99 seconds and half in 45.41 seconds.

“We figured all the speed was inside us, and that’s the way it manifested,” said Simon Callaghan, who trains Square Deal. “When he gets in front, he think he’s done enough. He idles.”

Square Deal, a colt by Square Eddie, is owned by Arnold and Ellen Zetcher and Qatar Racing. The win was officially his first in four starts. He lost his second start by a nose, against maidens at Los Alamitos, then came the unfortunate Graduation.

Callaghan said Square Deal would remain in the Cal-bred ranks for the immediate future.