Flashiest looking for outside trip in rebound bid

When Flashiest won the Oceanside Stakes at 12-1 last July at Del Mar, he rallied wide in a large field to reach the front in the final strides.

Even though Flashiest is winless in seven subsequent starts, trainer Leonard Powell is hopeful the gelding can rebound in an allowance race/optional claimer at 1 1/4 miles on turf Sunday at Santa Anita.

The key to victory is another wide rally, Powell said. Following the Oceanside, the racing style was close to successful in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby last September when Flashiest finished second by three-quarters of a length.

“Both times, he made a long sustained run on the outside,” Powell said. “That’s his M.O.”

The style did not materialize in an allowance race at 1 1/8 miles on April 16 when Flashiest closed on the inside to finish fifth of seven, beaten four lengths by the promising Hong Kong Harry.

“He got stuck inside and he doesn’t like to be inside too much,” Powell said. “Hopefully, this time we can get a clean trip on the outside.”

Flashiest, who races for the partnership of Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable, Nicolas Drion, and Mathilde Powell, is part of a field of five.

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Sunday’s race will be the first start for Flashiest at 1 1/4 miles. Last August, Flashiest finished last of 11 in the Grade 1 Saratoga Derby at 1 3/16 miles on turf, but Powell later said the journey to New York was difficult on the gelding. After that, Flashiest was an encouraging second in the Del Mar Derby at 1 1/8 miles, suggesting a longer race will work with the right trip.

This summer, Flashiest will be considered for the restricted Wickerr Stakes, a $100,000 race at a mile on turf July 24 at Del Mar.

“If he does well, he’ll be eligible for the Wickerr,” Powell said. “The main thing is we can race on Sunday and go from there.”

To win on Sunday, Flashiest must beat two prospects trained by Phil D’Amato – Cash Equity and Red King, who are well-suited to the distance.

Cash Equity won an allowance race at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Le Lion d’Angers in western France last May and was later third in three minor stakes at the distance in that country. Cash Equity was a promising second despite a slow start in the same race as Flashiest on April 16, his American debut.

Red King, winner of the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on turf in August 2020, was fifth in the Grade 3 San Luis Rey Stakes in March and is entered to be claimed for $80,000 on Sunday.

Seven Charms, second in a starter allowance April 3 in his 2022 debut, and Count of Amazonia are the other runners.

Count of Amazonia, sixth in an allowance race in February, is now officially trained by George Papaprodromou after trainer Richard Baltas had a horse withdrawn May 8 for an alleged medication violation. Baltas is currently not permitted by Santa Anita management to run horses in his name.