Flamboyant will target San Marcos

ARCADIA, Calif. - Flamboyant, Forever Darling, and San Onofre, the winners of graded stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday, are scheduled to run in stakes from late January to early March, their trainers said on Sunday.

Flamboyant ($94.20) scored the upset of the day with a neck win in the $201,500 San Gabriel Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf. The win will lead to a start in the $200,000 San Marcos Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf on Feb. 6, trainer Paddy Gallagher said.

“He shouldn’t have any problem with that,” Gallagher said of the distance.

Flamboyant, 5, races for David Bienstock and Chuck Winner, the chairman of the California Horse Racing Board. The win in the Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes ended a 10-race losing streak for Flamboyant dating back to the La Puente Stakes in April 2014.

In the San Gabriel, jockey Brice Blanc guided Flamboyant to a win from ninth place, easing his mount down in the final strides after reaching the front.

Forever Darling had to work harder to win the $200,500 Santa Ynez Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 6 1/2 furlongs. She fought for the lead through the final quarter-mile before winning by a half-length over Code Warrior.

Trainer Richard Baltas said Forever Darling felt the effects of the race on Sunday morning.

“She’s tired and she left a little feed,” he said. “I’m grateful to get the win. She showed a lot of determination.”

The Grade 2 Santa Ynez was Forever Darling’s first start since undergoing a throat operation following an eighth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Keeneland on Oct. 31.

Baltas said he plans to give Forever Darling a break in advance of a probable start in the $100,000 Santa Ysabel Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles on March 5. He co-owns Forever Darling with A.C. Hebert and John Manni.

San Onofre is a candidate for the $150,000 California Cup Sprint for statebreds at six furlongs on Jan. 30 following his win in the $100,250 Midnight Lute Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs.

Trained by Karen Headley, San Onofre won his first stakes in the Grade 3 Midnight Lute. He was entered for the Grade 1 Santa Anita Sprint Championship in October, but was withdrawn after he was cast in his stall in the day before the race.