Comeflywithanangel wins Larkspur Handicap

Michigan’s reigning Horse of the Year, Comeflywithanangel, once again proved her mettle in the state, rallying from six wide to win the $20,000 Larkspur Handicap on Friday night at Hazel Park Raceway.

The 7-year-old Equality mare was unhurried early in the six-furlong race as Prayer Salute, No Touch, and Afternoon Prayer dueled through opening fractions of 23.27 seconds 47.39. The field remained tightly bunched turning into the stretch, where jockey Joseph Sanchez angled Comeflywithanangel to the outside from second to last.

The pair gained momentum at the top of the straightaway and charged down a clear path in the final sixteenth under left-handed urging to catch Afternoon Prayer by three-quarters of a length. No Touch finished third by a nose to the runner-up.

Comeflywithanangel ($9.20) won the race for Michigan-bred older fillies and mares in 1:14.68. The Larkspur was Comeflywithanangel’s second stakes victory and improved upon a third-place finish in the same race last year. Her career record sits at 14 wins in 36 starts for earnings of $167,897.

Sanchez was announced as the rider aboard Comeflywithanangel for the first time as the horses reached the paddock, replacing an absent Jeffrey Skerrett. He rode for owner Marion Gorham and trainer Robert Gorham, who also saddled Afternoon Prayer. Comeflywithanangel was bred in Michigan by Guy and Deb Russell.