Flashy Appeal stalks to victory in Starlet

OPELOUSAS, La. – Stalking the early leader under regular rider Shane Laviolette, Prairie Meadows invader Flashy Appeal kicked strongly clear through the stretch to capture the $75,000 Starlet Stakes on Saturday night at Evangeline Downs. Both the Starlet, for 2-year-old fillies, and its companion co-feature, the $75,000 Star for colts and geldings, were restricted to graduates of the Stars of Tomorrow Sale held at Evangeline in March.

Trained by Scott Gelner, Flashy Appeal ($5.20) won her second consecutive race after winning her maiden in her fourth start Aug. 5 in Iowa. Gelner owns Flashy Bull in partnership with Norman Stables LLC, and the group purchased the daughter of Flashy Bull for the bargain price of $3,500 in the spring. Saturday’s payday of $45,000 increased her career bankroll to almost $75,000. She covered the six-furlong distance of the Starlet in 1:13.16 over a fast track.

In the Star, Zackarooney ($6.60) won in similar fashion as veteran Don Simington positioned the K One King colt directly behind the favorite Copper Cajun before overtaking that rival in upper stretch. The Ricky Courville trainee steadily drew clear through the final furlong, winning by 5 3/4 lengths in 1:12.01.

Zackarooney is owned by Jeremy Breaux and HP Thoroughbreds and fetched $17,000 when he passed through the sales ring in March. He picked up his first win in four starts and now has banked just over $50,000.