Flutterby may get shot at Breeders' Cup after Added Elegance victory

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Flutterby won her third stakes in her last four starts and may have earned herself a trip to the Breeders’ Cup in the process after leading nearly every step of the way en route to a three-quarter length victory over the 4-5favorite Kiss to Remember in Sunday’s $75,000 Elegance Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Flutterby, who would have to be supplemented if she is to run in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, is trained by her owner-breeder, the 94-year-old Jerry Bozzo. Her only setback in her last four starts was a second-place finish behind Merry Meadow in the Grade 2 Princess Rooney here earlier this summer, a Win and You’re In race for the Filly and Mare Sprint.

Flutterby was not away quite as alertly as usual but used her abundant speed to quickly assume command under Luca Panici, setting a reasonable pace of 22.66 and 45.03 seconds for the opening half-mile. She settled into the stretch with a clear advantage and then withstood a minor bid from Kiss to Remember, registering her first career win at seven furlongs after completing the distance in 1:22.89.

Kiss to Remember, who finished second in the Grade 1 Ballerina at Saratoga in her previous start for trainer Marty Wolfson, was rated about six lengths off the lead, advanced a bit wide turning for home but could not reach the winner while easily second best. My Miss Venezuela finished another 2 1/4 lengths back in third.

Flutterby, a 4-year-old daughter of Congrats, paid $5.

“Wow,” said Bozzo. “I’ve run out of superlatives. I used them all up last time. She deserves those superlatives, particularly this time since it was a little difficult to get her ready because this race was on again, off again for a while. She just has to be in front … a head, a neck … that’s plenty. This kind of changed all my thinking [about the Breeders’ Cup]. Marty’s horse was red hot. She finished second in a Grade 1, so now I’m considering the Breeders’ Cup.”