Owner J. Paul Reddam, whose consumer loans company sponsors
the $750,000-guaranteed CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park
December 17, would like to keep the winner’s share in his own pocket.
Reddam plans to start both Handsome Mike, purchased
privately after a second-place finish in the Generous Stakes Sunday, and
Basmati, runner-up in the Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes in Louisiana November 19
for his wife Zillah, in the Grade I test at 1 1/16 miles on Cushion Track.
Doug O’Neill trains both colts for Reddam and said that
Corey Nakatani, who won the race last year on Comma to the Top, would probably
return on Basmati.
Reddam has been close in the Futurity on two previous
occasions: second with Liquidity in 2006 and third with Wilko in 2004.
“Basmati is a real talented high-energy horse who should
have a bright 3-year-old campaign ahead of him,” said O’Neill.
Other probable starters include a Bob Baffert-trained
quartet of Liaison, So Brilliant, Sky Kingdom and Secret Circle, a Jerry
Hollendorfer-conditioned duo of Longview Drive and Rousing Sermon, Empire Way
and Maryland shipper Lucky Chappy.
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