6th-SAR, $83,000, Msw, 8-5, 2yo, 6f, 1:10.35, ft.
NATIONAL FLAG (c, 2, Speightstown–Date to Remember, by Bernardini) pressed the quick pace of eventual winner Shangroyal (Shanghai Bobby) before fading to seventh and last as the 6-5 favorite in his 5 1/2-furlong debut at Belmont July 8. Sent off at 3-1 in this second go, the chestnut colt sat just off the early leaders through an opening quarter in :22.13. He shadowed the move of favored Engage (Into Mischief) on the turn and those two foes entered the stretch together after a half in :44.99. The pair exchanged several bumps and went head to head before National Flag kicked away in the final sixteenth en route to a 1 1/4-length victory. National Flag was a $600,000 KEESEP yearling. Date to Remember, a half-sister to Grade I winner Eddington (Unbridled), produced a colt by Into Mischief this year and was bred back to Curlin. Siena Farm purchased the mare, in foal to Street Sense, for $200,000 at the 2013 Keeneland January sale. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $50,550.
O-WinStar Farm LLC, China Horse Club International Ltd. & SF Racing Group Inc.; B-Siena Farms LLC (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher.
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