Busanda win puts Flora Dora on road to Kentucky Oaks

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – As the distances get longer, trainer Marialice Coffey believes Flora Dora will get better. Coffey felt Flora Dora’s one-length victory in Sunday’s $100,000 Busanda Stakes was a good start for what she hopes turns into a trip to the Kentucky Oaks in May.

“Every race, she gets better,” Coffey said. “She seems to be growing into herself and developing. I’d like to see her start fleshing out a little bit, but she’s maintained her weight, and she ate up everything.”

The Busanda was the fourth consecutive stakes race for Flora Dora. As a maiden in her second start, she won the $500,000 My Dear Girl Stakes at Gulfstream Park. She followed that with a second-place finish in the Tempted Stakes and a fourth in the Grade 2 Demoiselle, where she raced near the back behind a slow pace and ended up being beaten only three lengths.

On Sunday, she was kept a little closer to the front by Jose Ortiz and was able to down Scatoosh in the final yards. Flora Dora ran a mile and 70 yards in 1:45.40 and earned a 70 Beyer Speed Figure. She will look to run in the $125,000 Busher Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on Feb. 27 next, followed by the Gazelle at 1 1/8 miles on April 9.

“The added distance is certainly going to help her,” Coffey said.