Flowers for Lisa upsets Claiming Crown Jewel

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Flowers for Lisa used his abundant speed to overcome an unlucky post position draw, leading throughout to register a 1 1/2-length decision over Flashy Jewel in the $200,000 Claiming Crown Jewel, the main event on opening day of the 2017 Gulfstream Park Championship meet.

Flowers for Lisa broke from the extreme outside, in post position 12, a disadvantageous position with a very short run to the first turn in races carded at 1 1/8 miles over the main track at Gulfstream. But jockey Paco Lopez put Flowers for Lisa, a 4-year-old son of Flower Alley, into a drive immediately after leaving the gate, clearing the field in the opening eighth of a mile to control the pace over a track that favored speed throughout the day.

Flowers for Lisa, claimed for $20,000 by trainer Jorge Navarro at Monmouth Park for the Flying P Stable on July 21, rated kindly on the lead, settled into the stretch with a clear advantage before edging away near the end. Flashy Jewel, who also did well to secure good early position after breaking just inside the winner from post 11, prompted the issue throughout while racing a bit wide, rallying in the final yards to edge Diamond Bachelor for second. The latter saved ground throughout and loomed boldly through the stretch, but hung late.

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Canadian invader and Grade 2 winner Gigantic Breeze, the 2-1 favorite despite the Jewel being his first race on dirt in 18 career starts, was never a serious factor.

Flowers for Lisa gave Lopez his third win on the card. He also captured the Claiming Crown Distaff Dash with Blue Bahia and the Tiara aboard Martini Glass. The Jewel also capped off a memorable afternoon for Navarro, who was at Aqueduct to send out Sharp Azteca to his popular victory in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile.

Flowers for Lisa completed 1 1/8 miles over a fast track in 1:48.76 and paid $35.80.