NEWS
Fluke delivers emotional Citation victory for connections
Posted: Friday, November 27, 2009 8:58 PM
FLUKE
Benoit & Associates photo
To view the Citation Handicap, click here.
by Mike Curry
Patricia Bozano’s Fluke (Brz) split horses in the stretch and powered to an emotional victory for his connections in the $300,000 Citation Handicap (G1) on Friday at Hollywood Park.
The four-year-old colt made his first official start for trainer Humberto Ascanio, a longtime assistant to Racing Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel, who died on November 16 after a battle with cancer.
Walking to the winner’s circle, Ascanio pointed skyward and said he thought Fluke got a little push from Frankel in the Citation to earn his first North American stakes victory.
"Bobby told me to get him ready. Be positive, he is training good. He was right,” an emotional Ascanio said. “My job was to continue training. I'm just happy to win for him.”
Ascanio, who worked with Frankel for 35 years, earned his first official stakes win as a trainer.
"[Frankel] was confident. He said this horse can win. I like that,” Ascanio said. “It was a tough race, I'm just happy to win it.”
A group stakes winner in his native Brazil, Fluke was rated in fourth early by jockey Joe Talamo, moved into striking distance entering the stretch, and surged to the lead from between runner-up Ever a Friend and pacesetter Enriched. He edged away to prevail by 1 1/4 lengths at odds of 9-to-1, completing 1 1/16 miles in 1:40.48 on firm turf.
Fluke entered off a 3 1/4-length win in an optional claiming race on September 18 at Belmont Park in his final start for Frankel.
"This is very emotional for me. Bobby's the one who brought me out here. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be here,” Talamo said. “I watched the replay of his last race and man, he came home in :22. I'm not going to say that we knew he was going to win, but we came in with a lot of confidence. He's a real nice horse and I think he's going to go on to do some big things.”
Ever a Friend, winner of the 2008 Frank E. Kilroe Mile Handicap (G1), closed willingly to finish second. Multiple graded stakes winner Cowboy Cal was another three-quarters of a length back in third. Blue Chagall (Fr) swept into contention with a bold move on the turn but flattened out in the stretch and finished last of eight as the 2.40-to-1 favorite.
Fluke improved to five wins from 11 starts and more than doubled his earnings to $308,348. Bred in Brazil by Haras Doce Vale, Fluke is out of the De Quest mare Uff-Uff.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor
