NEWS
California Flag victorious in Green Flash thriller
Posted: Wednesday, August 18, 2010 9:10 PM
For video of the Green Flash, click here.
by Steve Bailey
Multiple graded stakes winner California Flag made his first start off a 4 ½-month layoff a successful one as he rallied in the stretch to score a nose victory in a thrilling edition of $102,175 Green Flash Handicap on Wednesday at Del Mar.
The six-year-old Avenue of Flags gelding, winner of the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint during the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita Park, made his first start since finishing third in the Emirates NBD Al Quoz Sprint (UAE-G3) on March 27 at Meydan Racecourse.
Typically a front-runner, California Flag, the 11-to-10 favorite in the eight-horse field, raced in fourth behind a quick pace under jockey Mike Smith into the stretch, where he came out from between foes and drove with determination to the narrow victory, covering five furlongs in :55.58 on turf rated as firm.
Summer Slew and Quick Enough finished in a dead heat for second, a half-length in front of Grade 1 winner Cost of Freedom, third in last year’s Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1).
Trained by Brian Koriner for Hi Card Ranch, California Flag won for the ninth time from 19 career starts and boosted his earnings to $1,166,171.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Steve Bailey is deputy news editor for Thoroughbred Times
