ARCADIA, Calif. – Man O Rose held off a late surge from Lovesick Blues to win Saturday’s $101,000 California Flag Stakes for statebreds on the hillside turf course by a nose, a result that will lead to divergent stakes at the Del Mar autumn meeting for the older geldings. Man O Rose will be considered for the $100,000 The Chosen Vron Stakes for California-breds at seven furlongs on Nov. 8. Lovesick Blues is bound for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint at six furlongs on Nov. 1 at Del Mar. Lovesick Blues earned a fees-paid berth to the BC Sprint with an 18-1 upset in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes on July 26 at Del Mar. In the California Flag Stakes, Man O Rose was sent off favored and stalked 5-1 Flyover, who set a torrid pace of 20.88 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 42.42 for a half-mile. Man O Rose, ridden by Edwin Maldonado, moved closer to the front when the field crossed over the dirt onto the main turf course and had a half-length lead with a furlong remaining. Lovesick Blues, the 5-2 second choice, closed from last of seven to lose narrowly. :: Bet Santa Anita with confidence! Get DRF All Access Past Performances, Picks, Clocker Reports and more. Man O Rose ($6.40) ran about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course in 1:11.07. The course record of 1:10.52 was set by Noble Reflection in April 2023. Man O Rose earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 95. “I knew somehow I would be sitting second,” Maldonado said. “My horse relaxed, like he almost never does. Once he relaxed, I knew I had a lot of horse turning from home. It was just a matter of crossing the path and then guiding him straight.” Librado Barocio, who trains Lovesick Blues, described the California Flag as a prep race for the BC Sprint. “I wanted to see him closing like that and gallop out well,” Barocio said. “I would liked to have seen him win, but he ran good.” Book Smart (6-1) was expected to lead but raced in third on the hillside. Book Smart finished third, followed by Shea Brennan, Sir Rocket, Flyover, and Cali Cat. Man O Rose, trained by Jeff Mullins for owners and breeders Bruce and Beverly Seitz, has won three stakes in his 16-race career. The 5-year-old gelding by Stanford won the E.B. Johnston Stakes at a mile on dirt at Los Alamitos in September 2024 and the same race last month in his first start since November. A nine-time winner, Man O Rose has earned $440,965. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.