Ciaran's Prize wins Hoist Her Flag Stakes

Ciaran’s Prize won her first stakes race in more than two years when she captured the $41,800 Hoist Her Flag by a half-length over Discreetly Grand on Sunday at Canterbury Park.

Ridden by Orlando Mojica for trainer Joel Berndt and owner James Thares, Ciaran’s Prize stalked the pace from third before making her run into the homestretch of the six-furlong dirt race. She poked her head in front at the furlong pole and edged clear late as 20-1 shot Discreetly Grand rallied four paths wide to get second.

Ball and Chain, the 4-5 favorite, set the pace but could not finish with the top two and was third. Ciaran’s Prize paid $7.80 to win and was timed in 1:10.05.

Dropping in class from the Grade 3 Saylorville in Iowa, Ciaran’s Prize won her first stakes since August 2014, when she came out on top in the Assiniboia Downs Oaks. The 5-year-old mare by Yes It’s True and out of the Crafty Prospector mare Think Fast now has won seven of 22 starts.