Flameaway gets crafty ride from Castellano to win Skidmore Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Javier Castellano, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame two weeks ago, gave Flameaway a ride that demonstrated that prowess on Friday, handling the inexperienced juvenile patiently and then adroitly steering him around a tiring rival at the eighth pole to win the $100,000 Skidmore Stakes at Saratoga.

The Skidmore, originally carded for 5 1/2 furlongs on turf, was moved to the muddy, sealed main track after heavy rain in the morning. Castellano was pleased with how his mount handled that adversity.

"Very professional horse," Castellano said. "He was inside on the rail. He got a lot of dirt in his face in the second start of his career. Turning for home, he got pinched a little bit around the quarter pole. He had to check a little bit, lose the momentum, but when he got in the clear at the top of the stretch, he accelerated beautiful."

Flameaway ($10.80) was patiently handled out of the gate by Castellano, allowed to settle into stride as he was guided inside to save ground. Nuclear Option zipped through an opening quarter of 21.86 seconds but began to feel heavier pressure from Joopster and the maiden My Chinumado through a slowing half in 46.42.

Meanwhile, Flameaway, fourth with a quarter-mile remaining, was looking for room behind those three. As Nuclear Option beat a quick retreat, Castellano steered his mount out around the beaten leader and gave him two right-handed whacks, and the colt took off to seize the lead.

The favored El Dulce made a strong bid far outside down the lane, but Flameaway, under steady urging, was able to hold him at bay for a 1 1/2-length win. The final time was 59.87 seconds.

"[Javier] said he's a big horse, it took him a little while to get his momentum going,” trainer Mark Casse said.

After El Dulce, it was 2 1/4 lengths back to Dial One in third, the second stakes placing of his young career after finishing third in the Kiss a Native Stakes in Florida.

Flameaway was a 2 1/2-length debut winner in May on Woodbine's Polytrack. Casse said he wasn’t sure how the colt would handle dirt, but the trainer now has options with his latest stakes winner.

"I wasn't really sure, to be honest," Casse said. "He had trained really well on the grass. But most grass horses and synthetic horses, they like firm going, so I thought he'd get over it OK. Now this may open up some avenues."