Flagndini scratch would clear path for Spring Quality in Sunday featured allowance

The feature Sunday at Parx looked like a two-horse race when first drawn, but that number may be cut in half as trainer Ramon Preciado said Friday he is likely to scratch Flagndini.

That would leave Spring Quality as a short-priced favorite when he stretches out around two turns in his second career start, a mile and 70-yard allowance race for 3-year-olds. His chief rivals appear to be Scattered and Guns of Steel, each coming out of races won by horses who were entered in recent Aqueduct stakes.

Spring Quality was impressive in winning his debut at the Keeneland fall meet for trainer Graham Motion. Well back early in the seven-furlong race, he closed steadily to overtake the front-running Hidden Danger in the final sixteenth to win going away by 2 1/4 lengths. Hidden Danger came back in his next start to win a maiden race on the Nov. 29 Stars of Tomorrow card at Churchill Downs.

Spring Quality looked like a distance horse trying to sprint in his debut, and it will be interesting to see how he handles Sunday’s distance. Spring Quality was bred and is owned by George Strawbridge Jr.

Scattered finished third, beaten 1 3/4 lengths by Mini Cosmo, in a mile allowance last time out for trainer John Servis. Mini Cosmo was entered by Motion in Saturday’s Grade 3 Jerome at Aqueduct.

Guns of Steel finished third, beaten three lengths by Joe Franklin, in a six-furlong allowance at Penn National in his most recent start for trainer Bernard Houghton. Joe Franklin, trained by Kelly Breen, finished second after setting the pace in Friday’s Capossela Stakes at Aqueduct.

Flagndini impressed when winning a Pennsylvania-bred maiden in his debut Sept. 6, easily defeating Nasa, who came back to win the Pennsylvania Nursery and who was entered in Saturday’s Jerome.

Flagndini disappointed when finishing eighth in the Pennsylvania Nursery in his second start following a 91-day break. Preciado said he didn’t think Flagndini handled the sloppy track that day. The Sunday weather forecast was a factor in his decision to scratch.

“It’s supposed to rain, and I don’t think he is ready to go long,” Preciado said. “I think he will be able to go long but maybe not yet. He is a very nice horse, and I’m taking my time with him. I think he will be a good 3-year-old for us.”

Pennington, Preciado top divisions

Jockey Frank Pennington and trainer Preciado were tops in their respective divisions at Parx in 2014.

Pennington won 143 races last year from 650 mounts, a 22 percent win rate. The title was Pennington’s second at Parx. He also led the standings in 2006.

Jose Delgadillo was second in the standings with 110 wins. Kendrick Carmouche rode 91 winners and was third.

Carmouche is a five-time leading rider at Parx (2008-2011 and 2013). Only about half of his 740 mounts last year came at Parx. His won with 24 percent of his Parx mounts.

Preciado won at a 30 percent clip to take down his first Parx training title with 118 victories. He bested Patricia Farro, the leading trainer in 2013, by five wins.

Phil Aristone was third with 83 winners. Aristone led the Parx standings in 2010 and 2012.