Flor de La Mar blossoms in Beverly Lewis Stakes

CYPRESS, Calif. - Perhaps the last half of 2019 will be better for Flor de La Mar than the month of May.

After comprehensive losses in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on May 4 and the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita on May 26, Flor de La Mar won her first stakes in Saturday’s $75,000 Beverly Lewis Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs at Los Alamitos.

While the purse was not huge, the win could give Flor de La Mar a much-needed career boost.

“This was the race to get her going,” said winning jockey Mike Smith.

Flor de La Mar ($7.20) closed from last of six to win by a half-length over 9-2 Madame Vestal, who led by 1 1/2 lengths in the stretch. Message (4-1) finished third after setting the early pace. Andyoushallreceive finished fourth, followed by Motion Emotion and Nomizar.

Flor de La Mar and Message are trained by Bob Baffert.

Smith moved Flor de La Mar from the inside to a position well off the rail turning into the long stretch.

“The middle of the track is a better place to be,” Smith said. “I backed up a length and I gained two.”

Flor de La Mar ran six furlongs in 1:09.22 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 82.

Smith said there were a few anxious moments during warmups when Flor de La Mar was upset.

“She went to lunging and sky-leaping,” he said. “We stopped. She got her breath again.”

Flor de La Mar, by Tiznow, gave Baffert his 21st stakes win at Los Alamitos since daytime Thoroughbred racing there resumed in 2014.

Owned by Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin Racing, Flor de La Mar has won 2 of 6 starts and earned $173,015. She was second to Bellafina in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks in April.