National Flag became the latest highlight in an incredible run of stakes success for the powerful team of WinStar Farm, China Horse Club and SF Racing as he flew home like he was shot out of a cannon.
Squeezed at the start, he raced in sixth through early fractions of :22.82 and :45.77. National Flag still had his work cut out for him on the far turn, but he came alive down the center of the course in the stretch to win for fun.
“I was concerned after the rough start,” winning trainer Todd Pletcher said. “He had never really been in that position. He got hit pretty hard from both sides and I was afraid at that point. You never know how a horse is going to react from getting bumped that hard in the beginning. It looked like he gathered himself up and Flavien [Pratt] rode a smart race from that point. He didn't panic and just gave him time to get his legs up and underneath him. He produced and put in a big run down the lane.”
Pletcher added, “At some point down the road we might stretch him out. We'll probably look for a one-turn mile next or something like that. We'll play it by ear and see how he comes out of this.”
Engage, last seen capturing Belmont's GIII Futurity S. in October, completed the exacta.
National Flag defeated Engage to break his maiden second out at Saratoga last August. Fifth after setting the pace in the GI Hopeful S. a month later, he returned with a big-figure optional claiming tally going this distance at Gulfstream Mar. 2.
Pedigree Notes:
National Flag is the 40th graded winner and 89th black-type winner for Speightstown. His dam Date to Remember, a half-sister to millionarie Eddington (Unbridled) and a maiden of five career starts, brought $200,000 from Siena Farm in foal to Street Sense at the 2013 KEEJAN Sale. In addition to Saturday's Bay Shore winner, she has also produced the graded-placed Bernina Star. She had a colt by Into Mischief in 2017 and was bred back to Curlin.
BAY SHORE S.-GIII, $250,000, AQU, 4-7, 3yo, 7f, 1:23.16, ft.
1–NATIONAL FLAG, 116, c, 3, by Speightstown
1st Dam: Date to Remember, by Bernardini
2nd Dam: Fashion Star, by Chief's Crown
3rd Dam: Miss Ivor, by Sir Ivor
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($600,000
Ylg '16 KEESEP). O-WinStar Farm LLC, China Horse Club
International Ltd. & SF Racing LLC; B-Siena Farms LLC (KY);
T-Todd A. Pletcher; J-Flavien Prat. $150,000. Lifetime Record:
5-3-0-0, $237,450. *1/2 to Bernina Star (Harlan's Holiday), GSP,
$157,006. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Werk Nick Rating: A.[bullet ad=”taylor-made-tm-for-you”][bullet ad=”taylor-made-sienna-farm”][bullet ad=”winstar-win-20000″][bullet ad=”equix-optimatch”][bullet ad=”kbif-g2g3″]2–Engage, 116, c, 3, Into Mischief–Nefertiti, by Speightstown.
($200,000 Ylg '16 KEESEP; $550,000 2yo '17 OBSMAR).
O-Woodford Racing, LLC; B-Woods Edge Farm, LLC (KY); T-Chad
C. Brown. $50,000.[bullet ad=”crupi-trained”][bullet ad=”cobra-farm-client-bred”][bullet ad=”woodsedgefarm-grad”]3–Aveenu Malcainu, 123, c, 3, Into Mischief–Island Time, by
Trippi. ($125,000 RNA Ylg '16 KEESEP; $150,000 2yo '17
OBSAPR). O-Gold Square LLC; B-Taylor Brothers Properties LLC,
George E. Saufley & Brian B. Kahn (NY); T-Jeremiah C.
Englehart. $25,000.[bullet ad=”webb-carroll-another-travis-durr-and-jeremiah-englehart-2yo-purchase”][bullet ad=”crupi-trained”][bullet ad=”catalyst-mating-recommendation”][bullet ad=”sbmtrainingandsales-brokenandtrained”]Margins: 4, 3/4, 2HF. Odds: 1.45, 1.20, 8.70.
Also Ran: I'm an Ocala Dude, A Different Style, Aqua Bel Sar, Justaholic. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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