Flamboyant will try longer distance in San Luis Rey

ARCADIA, Calif. - Flamboyant remained perfect in two starts at the winter-spring meeting with a win in Saturday’s $201,380 San Marcos Stakes at Santa Anita, his first career win at 1 1/4 miles.

The 5-year-old is likely to try a new distance when he attempts to stretch his winning streak to three races in the $200,000 San Luis Rey Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on turf on March 13. Flamboyant was sixth in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on turf last August, the longest start of his 19-race career.

The style of Flamboyant’s win in the Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes has given trainer Paddy Gallagher a reason to try the San Luis Rey.

“It seems like we’ll pick our spots,” Gallagher said on Sunday. “From the way he ran, he acts like he’ll go a mile and a half.”

Flamboyant, who races for Chuck Winner and David Bienstock, won the Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf on Jan. 2 in a 46-1 upset. He was the 5-2 second choice in the San Marcos, closing from sixth of nine to win by three-quarters of a length over Gaga A, a 7-year-old mare.