Motorious grabs second consecutive Green Flash triumph

DEL MAR, Calif. - There was a remarkable familiarity to the win by Motorious in Saturday’s Grade 3 Green Flash Handicap for turf sprinters at Del Mar.

For the second consecutive year, Motorious rallied with a wide rush to grab the lead in the final strides of the five-furlong turf race.

Last year, Motorious closed from seventh in a field of 12 to win by 1 3/4 lengths under jockey Geovanni Franco. On Saturday, Antonio Fresu had the mount and guided Motorious from ninth of 10 to win the $152,500 race by three-quarters of a length.

The 2023 Green Flash unfolded at a quick pace, and Saturday’s race was no different. This time, Motorious raced well behind 6-1 Sassy Nature, who set an early pace of 21.77 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 44.38 for a half-mile.

Fresu had Motorious racing two-wide entering the turn and wider entering the stretch.

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“I could see there was a lot of speed,” Fresu said. “With a wide draw, I tried to save some ground and kick out.”

Motorious was seventh by approximately 4 1/2 lengths with a furlong remaining. Sent off favored, Motorious ($6.60) was timed in 56.14 seconds and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 98.

“It worked out perfectly,” Fresu said. “I couldn’t be happier.”

The win gave Motorious a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar on Nov. 2. Owned by Tony Fanticola and trained by Phil D’Amato, Motorious was fifth by 1 3/4 lengths in the BC Turf Sprint at Santa Anita last November.

On Saturday, Motorious was the second of D’Amato's three graded stakes wins at Del Mar.

Johnny Podres, the winner of two turf sprint stakes at Santa Anita earlier this year, closed from last to finish second on Saturday. Johnny Podres (12-1) raced outside of Motorious in the final furlong and caught 4-1 No Nay Hudson in the final stride to finish second.

“He gave me a great kick,” jockey Ricky Gonzalez said. “I just had to go a little wide.

“I thought I had a good chance. I’m proud of him.”

No Nay Hudson held third and was followed by Daniel’s Magic, Fast Buck, Star Racer, Sassy Nature, Turn On The Jets, Unconquerable Keen and Mo Gold.

Saturday’s race was Motorious’s first win since the 2023 Green Flash. Earlier this year, Motorious was seventh of 14 after a troubled trip in the Grade 2 Churchill Downs Turf Sprint on May 4 and fourth of seven in a six-furlong allowance race on turf at Santa Anita on June 16.

A 6-year-old British-bred gelding by the Oasis Dream stallion Muhaarar, Motorious has won 7 of 19 starts and earned $517,604.

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