Edgeway makes it look easy in Las Flores Stakes

Edgeway cruised to a seven-length win without difficulty in the Grade 3 Las Flores Stakes at six furlongs at Santa Anita on Sunday.

Edgeway paid $2.60, a win widely expected. The only unknowns were the margin and the final time of 1:10.22.

The victory may lead to a start in the Grade 1 Madison Stakes for fillies and mares at seven furlongs at Keeneland on April 9, trainer John Sadler said last week.

Ridden by John Velazquez for the second time, Edgeway was away well, stalking Private Mission through an opening quarter-mile in 21.77 seconds. Edgeway moved alongside Private Mission on the turn, and took the lead entering the stretch without being urged.

“I think she was much better this time than last time,” Velazquez said in the winner’s circle. “I was very impressed.

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“She was there when I asked her. In the stretch, I kept her happy.”

Edgeway earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 88.

Private Mission, a two-time graded stakes winner last August and October, held second, five lengths in front of Dynasty of Her Own. Aloha Kitten, who stumbled at the start, was always last in the small field of four fillies and mares.

Park Avenue, trained by Sadler, was withdrawn early Sunday even though she was supplemented to the race for $2,000 when entries were taken on Thursday.

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Edgeway, a 5-year-old mare by Competitive Edge, has won 7 of 11 starts and earned $656,360. The $98,000 Las Flores Stakes was her fourth stakes win, all in the last 11 months. Last November, Edgeway was a second to Ce Ce in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Del Mar.

Owned by Hronis Racing, Edgeway won her 2022 debut against three rivals with a relatively easy win in the Kalookan Queen Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs on Jan. 2, the first time she was ridden by Velazquez. The Kalookan Queen Stakes was designed as a prep for the Grade 2 Santa Monica Stakes on Feb. 5, a race Edgeway missed because of a “minor setback” in January, Sadler said.