Flamboyant targets summer turf stakes at Del Mar

ARCADIA, Calif. - Earlier this year, Chuck Winner went on a horse scouting mission to France.

The goal was to buy Baby Foot, a three-time winner at the time who was stakes-placed last summer. When the price was higher than expected, Winner turned his attention to Flamboyant, who finished second to Baby Foot in an allowance race in January.

A private deal was reached and Flamboyant was sent to California, joining trainer Paddy Gallagher’s stable.

“I liked what I saw and what I felt,” Winner said.

Saturday, Flamboyant won his American debut in the $79,750 La Puente Stakes for 3-year-olds on turf at Santa Anita. The win left Winner and co-owner David Bienstock looking forward to the second half of the year when opportunities for 3-year-olds on turf in California are more frequent.

Flamboyant ($15) overcame traffic in the stretch to win the La Puente over 1 1/8 miles on turf by a neck over stretch leader Home Run Kitten. Flamboyant earned $47,400, giving Winner, the chairman of the California Horse Racing Board, and Bienstock a quick return on their investment.

Since Flamboyant’s first-place winnings were less than $50,000, he remains eligible for the $100,000 Oceanside Stakes over a mile for 3-year-olds on Del Mar’s opening day, July 17. The race is restricted to 3-year-olds who have won a first-place purse of $50,000 or more during the calendar year.

The Oceanside is the first of three turf stakes for 3-year-olds at Del Mar, a series that includes the La Jolla Handicap over 1 1/16 miles on turf and the Del Mar Derby over 1 1/8 miles on turf.

“I’m looking forward to that,” Winner said.

In the La Puente, Flamboyant rallied from fifth in a field of eight under jockey Corey Nakatani. The La Puente was the first stakes win for Flamboyant, who has won 3 of 6 starts and earned $92,788. Gallagher said the Del Mar meeting will be the next goal for Flamboyant.

“We can freshen him up a bit,” Gallagher said. “He ran hard, so hopefully he’ll come out of it in good shape.”

The victory by Flamboyant helped to brighten the mood at Gallagher’s barn after a difficult time earlier this year. In late February, Dice Flavor, the winner of two graded stakes for 3-year-olds in 2013, was euthanized as a result of a training injury, Gallagher said.

Dice Flavor raced for Oda Racing Stable and U.S. Equine. Dice Flavor won 3 of 13 starts and earned $283,000. He won the Grade 3 El Camino Real Derby in February 2013, and the Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap last August.

Dice Flavor was fifth in the Grade 2 Strub Stakes at Santa Anita on Jan. 18 in his final start.