Emmanuel returns from lengthy layoff to repeat in Canadian Turf

Emmanuel returned from a layoff of nearly seven months and won the Canadian Turf Stakes at Gulfstream Park for the second year in a row.

Todd Pletcher, an excellent layoff trainer, had Emmanuel primed for his comeback run, and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. played a key role in the outcome.

Saratoga Flash went to the lead from the rail in the Grade 3, $150,000 Canadian Turf, a 1 1/16-mile race, as Emmanuel, too, broke alertly from post 3. Two paths off the fence and just behind the leader around the clubhouse turn, Emmanuel got antsy with Napoleonic War lapped outside him and began pulling for his head. Ortiz, without fighting his mount, eased Emmanuel back to fourth, getting cover from Napoleonic War, turning a tricky trip into a good one as Emmanuel relaxed.

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Saratoga Flash went the opening half-mile in 47.16 seconds and held a clear lead around the far turn, but Ortiz tipped Emmanuel three wide with about five sixteenths of a mile left and gently asked his mount for run. Passing Napoleonic War easily, Emmanuel took aim at Saratoga Flash and collared him after switching leads. But Ortiz was not flawless in this race. Despite Emmanuel shying right from the first pop of Ortiz’s left-handed crop, Ortiz gave his mount two more left-handers, Emmanuel bearing out after both. The horse still managed to maintain his momentum and held off Siege of Boston by a half-length for a Canadian Turf repeat.

Siege of Boston surged between horses under Jose Ortiz but was turned back by the winner, who at base is a superior horse. Ice Chocolat suffered through a wide trip and finished third, three-quarters of a length behind Siege of Boston.

The favorite, Emmanuel paid $7.20 to win and was timed in a quick 1:39.04 for 1 1/16 miles over a firm grass course. Emmanuel also duplicated the 96 Beyer Speed Figure he earned with last year's Canadian Turf victory.

Pletcher trains Emmanuel for Siena Farm and WinStar Farm, and Emmanuel, a 5-year-old son of More Than Ready and the Hard Spun mare Hard Cloth, was bred by the Helen K. Groves Revocable Trust.

Chili Flag nails Walkathon to take Honey Fox

Irad Ortiz Jr. won consecutive turf stakes while notching his fifth win Saturday at Gulfstream, piloting Chili Flag to a fast-closing win in the Grade 3, $150,000 Honey Fox Stakes.

One race after booting home Emmanuel in the Canadian Turf, Ortiz sat chilly on Chili Flag as Time Passage, For the Flag hot on her heels, sprinted through an opening quarter-mile in 22.31 seconds and a half in an intemperate 45.53. Settled near the back of this 11-horse field racing two paths off the fence, Chili Flag had found a perfect spot.

After galloping along down the backstretch, Ortiz cleaved to the three or fourth path for much of the far turn before spinning wide at the quarter pole to give his mount a clean run at the tiring speed. Hitting top gear past the eighth pole, Chili Flag clipped home on the far outside and nailed Walkathon, who herself had rallied stoutly, in the waning strides.

Chili Flag ran one mile over a firm course in 1:32.78 and blasted through her final quarter-mile in about 22 seconds, paying $6.20 as the favorite. She won by a neck, with Ancient Peace 1 3/4 lengths behind Walkathon in third. Chili Flag earned a new career-best 93 Beyer Speed Figure.

Trained by Chad Brown for Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, and Michael Kisber, 5-year-old Chili Flag won her first graded stakes race. The mare was bred in France and campaigned there her first nine starts before being privately purchased and coming to America late in 2022. By Cityscape out of Flag Day, by Pivotal, Chili Flag had a solid 2023 campaign, capturing the Forever Together Stakes in November. Sixth on Jan. 27 in the Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf, Chili Flag got the right setup against the right level of competition Saturday, the hot jockey bringing her home.

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