Flagstaff gets up at wire to take narrow Churchill Downs Stakes victory
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. - With a half-dozen horses strung out across the track just heads apart, Saturday’s seven-furlong Churchill Downs Stakes was truly anybody’s race to win less than 100 yards from the wire. In the end, it was the veteran Flagstaff who came out narrowly best, out-gaming longshot Lexitonian and reigning Sprint champion Whitmore to become a Grade 1 winner for the first time in his career.
Flagstaff came into the Churchill Downs off a couple of big efforts: a third-place finish behind C Z Rocket and Whitmore in Oaklawn Park’s Hot Springs Stakes, followed by a victory in the Grade 3 Commonwealth last month at Keeneland. Jockey Luis Saez was aboard the 7-year-old veteran for the first time Saturday.
Flagstaff found himself in perfect position in the run down the backstretch, in the clear and chasing a four-pronged speed duel while sitting off a lively 21.98 opening quarter and 44.21 half-mile pace. Flagstaff angled out leaving the backstretch, went even wider while commencing his rally into the stretch, and was still fifth while joining the large pack vying for the lead just inside the sixteenth pole before sticking his head in front from between Lexitonian and Whitmore at the end.
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Lexitonian, off the board in three consecutive starts since finishing second in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby in August, raced outside horses contesting the rapid early pace, fell back a couple of lengths while continuing wide into the stretch, stuck his head in front briefly in deep stretch - but just failed to last.
Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Whitmore raced near the rear of the well-matched field for five furlongs, was very wide rallying into the stretch, loomed a winner at midstretch, before hanging a bit in final closing yards and missing second by a nose while a half-length better than fourth-place finisher Hog Creek Hustle.
Tap It to Win, the tepid 3-1 favorite in the well-matched field, was among the early leaders, faltered badly, and finished a disappointing 11th in the 12-horse field.
Flagstaff, a son of Speightstown and half-brother to Grade 1 winner Game Winner, is owned in partnership by Lanes End Racing and Hronis Racing and is trained by John Sadler. He covered seven furlongs in 1:21.82 over the fast track and paid $11.80. He got a 95 Beyer Speed Figure.
“You could see two or three different winners in the last jump and he got the nod today. So we’re thrilled,” said Sadler, who was quick to praise Saez for his ride.
“I told him (Saez) the horse usually runs from midpack and if he could work him to the outside, he usually puts in a better run,” Sadler said. “He was up a little close, at the point of the turn he kind of shuffled back a little bit, went wide and from there it was a dog fight. That’s a 10 of 10 or 100 of a 100. Whatever the scale, it was a great ride by Saez.”
Sadler acknowledged Flagstaff has been a warrior throughout his career.
“He ran well at Oaklawn and didn’t get one there, but he’s won at Santa Anita, Del Mar, Keeneland and now here,” Sadler said. “He always runs well everywhere he’s gone and seven furlongs is definitely his best distance.”