You Can’t Stop His Momentum

Paul Reddam wanted to combine a game of golf in Mexico with watching his horse run in a $100,000 race at Hollywood Park. Reddam knew he was on a tight schedule, and he almost cut it a little too close.

Flying into LAX from Cabo San Lucas late Sunday, Reddam and his golf buddies had a mix-up over their rental car. By the time they secured backup transportation and arrived at Hollywood Park, the Native Diver Handicap was half over.

“They didn’t want to let us in [without badges], but I said we had to get in,” Reddam said. “We got to a TV near the paddock and saw the rest of it.”

What they saw was Reddam’s Momentum, running for the first time on dirt, racking up a one-length win over Euchre, the even-money favorite, in the 11/8-mile race. It was a good day for Reddam, who said: “I shot a 96, but I still made money.”

A former owner of harness horses, Reddam switched to thoroughbreds a couple of years ago, and he and his trainer, Craig Dollase, are having a strong meet. The day after Thanksgiving, they won the $200,000 Miesque Stakes with Swept Overboard.

Ridden by Corey Nakatani, Momentum hit the wire in 1:48 1/5 and paid $11.80 as the second choice in a field of seven. Euchre, who hadn’t run in five months, beat Last Parade by 21/2 lengths for second.

Momentum, only the third 3-year-old to win the Native Diver, carried 117 pounds, four less than Euchre. The colt’s career began in England, where he won three of seven starts on grass before making his debut for Dollase by running second to Mizzen Mast in the Bien Bien at Hollywood on Nov. 7.

“When the horse came from Europe,” Dollase said, “he trained real well on dirt. He likes firm going and you get that on the main track. He’ll stay on dirt for now. We’re pointing for the Strub series for 4-year-olds at Santa Anita.”

Before Sunday, Euchre had won three of four starts at Hollywood, including his maiden win in 1999.