Hollywood Park: Dice Flavor back for Affirmed

INGLEWOOD, Claif. - Although Dice Flavor was eighth of 12 in the $2 million United Arab Emirates Derby at Meydan Racecourse on March 30, trainer Paddy Gallagher said he does not regret the international journey.

“I’d do it again,” Gallagher said earlier this week.

Dice Flavor won the Grade 3 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields on Feb. 16 in his stakes debut. The trip overseas was his following race, and most recent outing. In Dubai, racing against 3-year-olds and Southern Hemisphere 4-year-olds, Dice Flavor was beaten 13 lengths by winner Lines of Battle.

A colt by Scat Daddy, Dice Flavor has an easier assignment Sunday in the $100,000 Affirmed Handicap here over 1 1/16 miles. Dice Flavor is one of two graded stakes winners in what is likely to be a small field. The other, Den’s Legacy, won the Grade 3 Generous Stakes on turf here last November.

They are expected to face Broadway Empire, Counting Days, and Manando.

A winner of 2 of 6 starts and $160,500, all for Oda Racing Stable and US Equine, Dice Flavor will race on Hollywood Park’s synthetic track for the first time in the Grade 3 Affirmed, but has trained on the track for most of this year. He will be ridden by Mike Smith on Sunday.