Flamboyant ends losing streak in San Francisco Mile

ALBANY, Calif. – Flamboyant snapped a 14-race losing streak stretching back more than two years and became a millionaire in the process as he got a "dream-come-true" trip to win the Grade 3, $201,575 San Francisco Mile at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday.

The 7-year-old French-bred Peer Gynt gelding won for the first time since capturing the Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes at Santa Anita on Feb. 6, 2016. He was coming off one of the poorer races of his career when he ran sixth, beaten 11 lengths in this year's San Marcos on Feb. 3. Flamboyant paid $25.20 to win the San Francisco Mile.

"We've had him since he was a 3-year-old, and we're very fond of him," said trainer Patrick Gallagher, who had no explanation for the poor effort in this year's San Marcos.

"After the last race, we couldn't find anything wrong. He just didn't seem to fire," said Gallagher, who wondered if time was catching up with his star.

Jockey Julien Couton, who called the way the race was run "a dream come true," said his mount "was in the garden spot all the way."

Flamboyant was 10th early as Many Roses set a legitimate pace.

Couton kept him to the inside, sitting comfortably behind Editore while in the clear.

The inside was the place to be on the far turn as runners began to drift out and Couton began to move up unimpeded, saving ground to the quarter pole as Flamboyant moved up on his own.

It was a three-horse race as the field straightened for home, with Flamboyant on the rail, Editore, who had run third in the San Marcos, in the two path, and Many Roses in the three path.

With his clean trip, Flamboyant had the momentum and had plenty of room and clear sailing once past the temporary rail just outside the sixteenth pole. He completed one mile over firm turf in 1:36.15.

"He gave me a good run," said Couton, who added that he thought Flamboyant had enjoyed the going over Golden Gate's recently freshened turf course, which had just reopened Friday.

At the wire, Flamboyant was a neck in front of Editore, with Many Roses – third in last year's San Francisco Mile – 1 1/4 lengths back in third

"He got a terrific run," said Gallagher, who said that Flamboyant, who earned more than $100,000 with a second and four thirds in seven starts last year, had been "acting like he always has in the morning" heading into the race..

The victory was worth $120,000 for owners David Bienstock and Charles Winner. Flamboyant has now earned $1,081,916 in a career spanning 34 races with six victories.