Flintshire gets his ground and does his thing

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – As the rain fell outside of his office door Sunday morning, trainer Chad Brown was quite thankful that the Grade 2 Bowling Green Handicap had been run the previous day.

Brown had selected the $250,000 Bowling Green for Flintshire because he wanted to run the horse on firm ground. The rain began to fall late Saturday night, continued through Sunday, and forced that day’s six turf races to be run on the main track.

Meanwhile, Brown was left to marvel at the explosive turn of foot put in by Flintshire, whose three-quarter-length victory in the Bowling Green was easier than it may have looked.

“He only had to run the last quarter-mile of the race, and ran fast,” Brown said. “He went under 11 [seconds] the last eighth. He seems to have come out good so far.”

Flintshire, who earned a 104 Beyer Speed Figure for his Bowling Green win despite a slow final time, will now be aimed at the Grade 1, $1 million Sword Dancer here on Aug. 27.

“He just a remarkable horse,” Brown said. “He’s got a very explosive move. I like the fact we were able to get firm ground and run out of his own stall – no shipping. Hopefully, do the same back in the Sword Dancer.”