Brandothebartender upsets California Flag Handicap

ARCADIA, Calif. - Six days after a third-place finish in an allowance race with a $62,500 claiming option, Brandothebartender was the surprise winner of Saturday’s $100,000 California Flag Handicap for turf sprinters at Santa Anita.

The race was restricted to California-breds, but had Breeders’ Cup implications. Brandothebartender ($16.40) caught pacesetter Richard’s Boy, the 3-10 favorite, in the final sixteenth.

Richard’s Boy remains a candidate for the BC Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs on Nov. 3, trainer Peter Miller said. Richard’s Boy was second by a head in the 2017 BC Turf Sprint at Del Mar.

Brandothebartender set a course record of 55.11 seconds for five furlongs on turf in the California Flag. He earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 92. This was the third race run at the distance in track history. The distance is being used for the first time at the current autumn meeting.

Brandothebartender closed from fourth in a field of five to win by a length. Ridden by Joe Talamo, Brandothebartender benefited from a wickedly fast pace set by Richard’s Boy and 5-2 Eddie Haskell through an early quarter-mile in 20.94 seconds and a half-mile in 43.22. Richard’s Boy led by a length with a furlong remaining, but could not hold off Brandothebartender, who rallied wide.

“We had a sneaky feeling he was going to run well,” winning trainer Craig Dollase said. “It was a quick turnaround, but he has trained really well in between. Joe rode him really well and the pace scenario helped us.”

Eddie Haskell held third, followed by Mason B and P Club.

Brandothebartender, a 5-year-old gelding by Tribal Rule, has won 5 of 21 starts and earned $293,301. Brandothebartender was claimed for $40,000 by his current owners – Flawless Racing, Brian Flanagan, and Michael Jarvis – at Del Mar on Aug. 1.