Flamboyant headed to Dubai Turf

ARCADIA, Calif. – Flamboyant, the leading turf horse in Southern California this winter, will make his next start in the $6 million Dubai Turf at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates on March 26, according to co-owner Chuck Winner.

Winner said the other option to the Dubai Turf, run at about 1 1/8 miles, is the $200,000 San Luis Rey Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on turf at Santa Anita on March 13.

“We’re leaning toward Dubai,” Winner said on Thursday.

Winner, the chairman of the California Horse Racing Board, owns Flamboyant with David Bienstock. A 5-year-old gelding, Flamboyant has won two Grade 2 turf stakes at the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting – the San Gabriel Stakes at 1 1/8 miles in a 46-1 upset on Jan. 2 and the San Marcos Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on Feb. 6. Flamboyant was third, beaten a nose, in an optional claimer here last October.

“His last three races have been very good,” trainer Paddy Gallagher said on Friday.

Flamboyant, who is by the Sunday Silence stallion Peer Gynt, has won 5 of 19 starts and earned $518,368.