Castle goes gate to wire in California Flag Handicap

ARCADIA, Calif. – Castle, claimed for $40,000 on Aug. 25 at Del Mar, won his first start for trainer Mark Glatt in Saturday’s $100,702 California Flag Handicap for statebred turf sprinters at Santa Anita.

Ridden by Abel Cedillo, Castle ($12) led throughout the 5 1/2 furlongs on turf, holding off a sustained challenge from 7-1 Grinning Tiger to win by a neck.
Grinning Tiger finished 1 1/4 lengths in front of 8-1 King Abner in a field of seven.

Castle was timed in 1:01.51, a course record at a distance introduced at the start of the current autumn meeting on Sept. 27. There have been 14 races at the distance.

Castle earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 93.

Cedillo expected Castle to be challenged early and held an advantage of a half-length through an opening quarter-mile in 22.41 seconds without significant pressure.

“When the gate opened, he broke really good and I took the lead easily,” Cedillo said. “It worked for me.”

Castle led by 1 1/2 lengths on the turn.

What a View, a multiple stakes winner, finished fourth, followed by Tribalist, My Friend Emma, and Portando. Tribalist was the 11-10 favorite. He bobbled at the start and was never a factor.

Castle, a 6-year-old gelding by Slew’s Tiznow, has won 6 of 14 starts and earned $248,947. Castle was claimed in August by Glatt on behalf of Paul Heist and Jack Fabulich, who race as Where We At partnership.

The winner’s share of the California Flag Handicap was $60,000.

For finishing second, Grinning Tiger earned $20,000 for owner Tyree Wolesensky, who paid $25,000 earlier in the week to supplement the 4-year-old gelding to the California Flag Handicap.

The hefty supplemental fee makes Grinning Tiger eligible throughout his career for the year-round Golden State Series of stakes for California-breds. The California Flag Handicap is part of the Golden State Series.