Deal wins fair and Square

Two-year-old Square Deal successfully carried the Qatar Racing colors in the $100,000 I'm Smokin Stakes - a black type race - over six furlongs on dirt at Del Mar last Friday.

Square Deal had been unlucky to be disqualified after finishing first past the post in a similar race - the Graduation Stakes - at the same track on his previous start so he was gaining compensation as he beat Bluegrass Faith by a length and three quarters. After being held up in the early stages by Flavien Prat, Square Deal swept around his rivals rounding the final bend to win with plenty up his sleeve.

Prat said after the race:

‚"The draw (outside Post 11) worked well for us. He liked it out there. When we got to the stretch, he went well. A good win.‚"

Winning trainer Simon Callaghan added:

‚"With the speed horses down on the inside it worked out just about as we expected it would. It is a bit of compensation (for DQ 1st to 3rd in the Graduation). We got a split when, of course, we wanted a sweep. This is a nice horse and we think Mr. (Arnold) Zetcher and Qatar Racing will have some fun with him.‚"

Square Deal is improving with each race and will now be pointed at a Stakes race for Californian-breds on Breeders' Cup weekend.