Owner J. Paul Reddam has garnered a good deal of press since his charges Black Magic Mama, Square Eddie, Mark S The Cooler and Red Rocks will be contesting the Breeders Cup today and tomorrow at Santa Anita Park in California. But few may know that the native of Windsor, ON initially caught the racing bug on the standardbred side of the industry.
The 53-year-old was exposed to the standardbred racing scene at Windsor Raceway by a friend while attending high school. And even though the California resident is now better known as a thoroughbred owner, he still has standardbred horses performing on a regular basis.
A pair of Reddam's standardbred charges are in to go tonight.
Girlie Tough, a three-year-old Conway Hall filly trained and driven by Richard Plano, will be contesting this evening's fourth race at Cal-Expo in California. After having gone unraced at two, the bay lass has started 23 times this year, amassing a seasonal slate that reads 9-2-1 with over $34,000 in purse earnings. Girlie Tough took her mark in 1:55.4 over Pocono Downs and has been installed as the 9-5 morning line choice for her assignment tonight.
Reddam's other standardbred pupil that will see action tonight is Upsidedown, a battle-tested Super Star Ranger gelding that has compiled 53 career victories. Trained by Randy Fullmer, the nine-year-old bay will be facing a contentious bunch tonight in the 11th race at Western Fair Raceway. The career winner of $376,209 has been installed as the 9-2 fourth morning line choice. Alex Lilley will steer the gelding from Post 8.