Flores gets three-day suspension for careless ride in Del Mar Futurity

Barbara D. Livingston

David Flores, who was aboard Turbulent Descent when she won last month's Test at Saratoga, was also on her back when she had the first of a series of workouts that will lead up to the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

POMONA, Calif. – David Flores was suspended three days, Oct. 6-8, for his ride on Majestic City in the Del Mar Futurity on Sept. 7. Majestic City was disqualified from second and placed behind Creative Cause, after drifting out through the lane under left-handed whipping.

Flores is tentatively scheduled to ride Awesome Gem on Oct. 8 at Hawthorne in the Grade 2, $500,000 Hawthorne Gold Cup. If he rides Awesome Gem in that race, Flores will serve the final day of his suspension the following Saturday, Oct. 15.

Flores enters fall with live stakes mounts in addition to Awesome Gem. Before meeting with stewards Sunday morning at Fairplex Park, Flores worked Grade 1 winners Turbulent Descent and Ultra Blend at Hollywood Park.

Turburlent Descent works toward Breeders’ Cup

Turbulent Descent’s half-mile workout Sunday at Hollywood Park was her first since winning the Grade 1 Test Stakes on Aug. 6 at Saratoga as trainer Mike Puype cranks her up for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. Turbulent Descent is among the early favorites for the BC Filly and Mare Sprint.

“She’s been galloping beautifully,” Puype said. “Now it’s [a workout] every six days, eight works to the Breeders’ Cup. That’s been the plan all along.”

Turbulent Descent has won 6 races and $828,350 from 8 starts. Plans call for her to remain in training as a 4-year-old in 2012.