Flash! Team Tullock returns

ELMONT, N.Y. - Trainer Tim Tullock and S J Bee Stable blew into Belmont Park last year and won the Flash Stakes with Buster's Daydream. The same connections might have in Renegade Warrior the horse to beat in Friday's $100,000-added Flash.

Eight 2-year-old colts are entered in the five-furlong Flash, a Grade 3.

Renegade Warrior, who is stabled at Tullock's barn at Laurel Park, made his career debut at Keeneland on April 5 and finished fourth after breaking from post 11 in a 12-horse field. In his second start, on April 21 at Pimlico, Renegade Warrior crushed nine rivals with a 10 1/4-length win.

Tullock said the ease of Renegade Warrior's victory wasn't surprising. What did surprise Tullock was Renegade Warrior's sizzling half-mile work in 47.40 between the Keeneland and Pimlico races.

"He ran pretty decent at Keeneland; it was a lot to ask of him with the traveling and he got hung up in the 11-hole," Tullock said. "I was not surprised with his last race. He surprised me in the breeze. I didn't know he had that much speed."

Renegade Warrior controlled the pace in his maiden win and covered the 4 1/2 furlongs in 51.70 seconds over a wet-fast track, following a first quarter in 23.10 and a half in 45.71. His Beyer Speed Figure (94) is the highest in the Flash field.

"There might be horses in there a little quicker than him [early]," Tullock said. "But he gets faster; he went faster in his second quarter in his last race."

Ramon Dominguez rides Renegade Warrior, who drew post 2.

Todd Pletcher sends out the strong uncoupled entry of Mason City and Windsor Lodge, easy maiden winners in their last starts.

Windsor Lodge, who ran a first quarter in 21.87 under pressure in his debut, figures to be a major pace factor under John Velazquez from post 4. Pletcher said he hopes that Mason City "can settle a touch."

Jerry Bailey, a winner of two of the last four runnings of the Flash, rides Mason City from post 6.

Presence, a New York-bred owned by Barry Schwartz, chairman of the New York Racing Association, was an easy winner of a maiden race at Belmont on May 9. A You and I colt, Presence was a three-length winner under Bailey. Gary Stevens has the mount here.

Mike Hushion, Presence's trainer, said he knew his colt had promise before he made his first start. Hushion trained Presence's half-brother David, a stakes winner for Schwartz.

"His family is strong and this horse always carried himself really well," Hushion said.