Gunflash needs pace to close into in allowance sprint

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Trainer Karl Broberg is hoping the pace is right for Gunflash in Friday’s ninth race at Oaklawn Park.

The first-level allowance sprint is for 4-year-olds and up at six furlongs. Cristian Torres has the mount, one race after he teams with leading contender Aunt Becca in a second-level allowance sprint for fillies and mares that also drew stakes winners Verylittlecents, Lover Girl, and Tolonda.

Gunflash is part of a competitive field of 12 that includes Tee Burns, who was just edged at this level last out at Oaklawn, and Icing, who has won his last two races by a combined 14 3/4 lengths. Gunflash was third at this level here on Dec. 9, when he closed from seventh at the same six-furlong distance.

“He’s going to need the right pace setup,” Broberg said.

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Gunflash could get it as there appears to be a good deal of speed in the race. Tee Burns, Icing, Cold as Hell, Faithful Ruler, and Absolute Chaos are all candidates to dispute the fractions. Gunflash will break outside of all of them, from post 11.

Gunflash had been a regular around two turns, but in recent times Broberg has started to focus on sprint races with him. It’s a move the trainer also made with Gunflash’s half-brother, Flash of Mischief.

“We’re hoping that’s the answer,” Broberg said. “We kept trying to go long and it didn’t work so here we are, going short.”

Flash of Mischief had won a stakes at two turns, but found his calling at one as he became a multiple stakes winner at the configuration and landed in the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Torres rode the off-the-pace sprinter in the championship race, and was aboard Gunflash in the Dec. 9 race.

Gunflash is a son of Gun Runner who races for his breeder, Jerry Namy. Gunflash’s dam, Flashy Campaign, has a stakes winner at the current meet in War Campaign, who captured the Tinsel at 1 1/8 miles in December.

Broberg, who has divisions of his stable at Oaklawn and Delta Downs, has gotten off to a fast start in Arkansas.

“We’ve already got a couple of wins,” he said. “Hopefully, we’ll continue to improve our stock throughout the meet and finish strong.”

In the eighth race, Aunt Becca will vie for favoritism off a runner-up finish at a similar level in her last start Nov. 22 at Churchill Downs. She starts from post 5 for Turtle Creek Farm and trainer Cherie DeVaux.

◗ Goldbrick, a 3-year-old half-brother to millionaire Mr. Wireless, will start as a chief contender in the seventh race, a maiden special weight at a mile. Mr. Wireless won his maiden at the short-stretch distance in 2021 at Oaklawn and also captured a first-level allowance at the track before becoming a multiple Grade 3 winner.

Francisco Arrieta has the mount on Goldbrick from the rail for Bret Calhoun, who also trained Mr. Wireless.

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