Pamplemousse, Square Eddie to go their separate ways

Pamplemousse, Square Eddie to

go their separate ways

There will be no immediate rematch between THE PAMPLEMOUSSE (Kafwain) and

SQUARE EDDIE (Smart Strike), for the respective top two finishers from the San

Rafael S. (G3) are going their separate ways.

The Pamplemousse will stay in Southern California for the February 28 Sham S.

(G3) at Santa Anita, according to trainer Julio Canani, while Square Eddie will

ship to Oaklawn Park for the February 16 Southwest S. (G3), trainer Doug O'Neill

reports.

The Pamplemousse, who is two-for-two since stretching out to two turns, will

step up to nine furlongs in the Sham. In the one-mile Southwest, Square Eddie is

expected to clash with OLD FASHIONED (Unbridled's Song), the undefeated Remsen

S. (G2) winner.

"We are real excited about coming to Oaklawn," O'Neill said. "The big reason

is we need to try him on dirt. He trains over at Hollywood Park where they have

a dirt training track and really seems to go over that well. I don't think he

will have any problems with it, but we need to give him a race over it."

Square Eddie has raced only on turf and synthetic surfaces so far. Last season, he

romped in the Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland and then finished a good

second to Midshipman (Unbridled's Song) in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at

Santa Anita. Square Eddie was sent off as the 3-5 favorite when making his

three-year-old debut in the San Rafael, only to be upset by the front-running

The Pamplemousse.

"He's an extremely smart, classy and big colt," O'Neill said of Square Eddie.

"We have been real lucky with him and look forward to see how he runs in the

Southwest. This race comes at a perfect time for him. We will ship in about 10

days before the race, and the plan is to give him a work over the track either

on the 8th or 9th of February."

Rafael Bejarano, who has ridden the chestnut colt in all of his U.S. starts,

will retain the mount for the Southwest. 

San Rafael fourth BROTHER KEITH (Johar), who lost all chance after bearing

out on the first turn, may also be headed out of town.

"I'm going to run him back in some stakes," horseman Bobby Frankel said. "I

don't know where -- either here or New Orleans (possibly the February 7 Risen

Star S. [G3] at Fair Grounds)."

In other news from the West Coast, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer confirmed that

California Derby hero CHOCOLATE CANDY (Candy Ride [Arg]) would make his next

start in the February 14 El Camino Real Derby (G3) at Golden Gate Fields.

"Then we might come back here for the Santa Anita Derby ([G1] on April 4),"

Hollendorfer said from Santa Anita.