Hometown boy makes good with Shedaresthedevil

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – On any given Saturday, the 31-year-old Staton Flurry can be found parking cars across the street from Oaklawn Park.

But this Saturday Flurry will be in the track’s paddock, standing alongside one of the top mares in the country. He’s a co-owner of Shedaresthedevil, an Eclipse Award finalist in 2021 who will launch her 5-year-old season in the Grade 2, $350,000 Azeri.

The 1 1/16-mile stakes drew nine fillies and mares, including champion Ce Ce, recent Houston Ladies’ Classic winner Pauline’s Pearl, and Remington Park Oaks winner Lady Mystify.

“It’s a very, very stout race,” Flurry said Monday. “Hopefully, Shedaresthedevil can run as good as she’s been training. Obviously, she likes Oaklawn. She’s had a lot of success there. She’s the defending winner of this race.”

Shedaresthedevil was a head winner over eventual champion Letruska in last year’s Azeri.

The parking lot gig is a family tradition for Flurry, a native of Hot Springs. Staton’s mother, Dorothy, grew up near Oaklawn and as a child parked patrons at her family’s residence. She said she realized “This is good money” and eventually bought a piece of property that came up for sale on Central Avenue.

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As an extension of that property became available, the Flurrys purchased it and now own a sizable parking lot across from the north entrance of Oaklawn. One year as a Christmas gift, Dorothy gave her son a sign labeling the lot as Dorothy and Staton’s and it’s become a traditional parking spot for many, including a number of celebrities who make annual visits to Oaklawn.

Staton Flurry, whose first name reflects his paternal grandmother’s maiden name, bought his first horse while at Henderson State University, and the business management graduate and real estate investor now has 20 in training. The number includes 2-year-olds by Bernardini, Connect, Invincible Spirit, Liam’s Map, Lord Nelson, and Midshipman. Flurry keeps horses with Brad Cox, who trains Shedaresthedevil, Karl Broberg, and Ron Faucheux.

“Staton is very receptive of good news and bad news and is willing to give the horses time when they need it,” Cox said. “He’s a great guy to deal with. He’s super, super good, exactly what you want in an owner. He knows we have his best interest at heart, and I think he knows we’re trying hard.”

Flurry purchased Shedaresthedevil at auction in November 2019 and original owner Qatar Racing bought back into the filly, who went on to win the 2020 Kentucky Oaks. Shedaresthedevil went through the auction ring again this November, at Fasig-Tipton, and brought $5 million. Flurry and Qatar Racing decided to go back in alongside new owner Mandy Pope of Whisper Hill Farm.

“Hopefully, it will be a beneficial partnership for all of us,” Flurry said. “I wanted to race her this year. I don’t think we saw her best at the Breeders’ Cup. We’d love another shot at the Breeders’ Cup and the Eclipse Award.”

Shedaresthedevil, who was sixth in the BC Distaff in her last start, will start her season from post 7. It’s the same number she wore in the Kentucky Oaks, noted Flurry.

The complete Azeri field from the rail with riders is: She’s All Wolfe, Francisco Arrieta; Pauline’s Pearl, Joel Rosario; Lavender, Ramon Vazquez; Ava’s Grace, David Cohen; Ce Ce, Victor Espinoza; Lady Mystify, Mario Gutierrez; Shedaresthedevil, Florent Geroux; Golden Curl, David Cabrera; and Super Quick, Joe Talamo.

The Azeri is a stepping-stone to the Grade 1, $1 million Apple Blossom Handicap on April 23, and Flurry said he’d love to also make that race with Shedaresthedevil.

“Being from Hot Springs, the Apple Blossom is one of the biggest races we’ve got,” he said.

Flurry struck gold in 2016, when he bought a 2-year-old named Mr. Misunderstood. The horse wound up becoming a Grade 2 winner of nearly $1 million.

“Mr. Misunderstood helped us to pave the way to Shedaresthedevil, and Shedaresthedevil has paved the way to buy more horses,” Flurry said. “This is our 10th year in the sport. We’re a little over 100 wins, 112.

“I love the competition – and the people.”

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It’s that special connection with the racing community – and his mom – that keeps Flurry parking cars each meet and running in big races at Oaklawn.

Rosario returns after spill

Jockey Joel Rosario is scheduled to resume riding Friday at Oaklawn, agent Ron Anderson said Tuesday. Rosario missed the card Sunday, a day after he went down in a spill in the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park.

“He’ll be fine Friday,” Anderson said. “He’s way, way better today than he was yesterday. The plan is to ride Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at Oaklawn.”

Rosario has been wintering at the Arkansas track. He recently won the Eclipse Award for outstanding jockey of 2021.

◗ Kentucky Oaks candidate Secret Oath breezed a half-mile in 48.40 seconds on Tuesday at Oaklawn. It was the second fastest of 22 moves at the distance. The drill was the first for Secret Oath since she secured 50 Oaks points winning the Grade 3 Honeybee on Feb. 26 at Oaklawn.