Needmore Flattery cuts back to win fourth straight in Scarlet and Gray
Needmore Flattery, honored as the top Ohio-bred each of the past two seasons, took another step toward retaining that title for a third straight season when she ran down the 3-year-old filly Justalittlesmoke to win Saturday’s $75,000 Scarlet and Gray Handicap for statebred fillies and mares at ThistleDown.
Cutting back to six furlongs after four consecutive route races since June 27, the 4-year-old Needmore Flattery ($4.80) raced about three lengths off an early pace contested by Justalittlesmoke and Floral Sky through a half-mile in 45.88 seconds. Justalittlesmoke, making just her second start since mid-May, put away Floral Sky to lead in the stretch, but Needmore Flattery surged under Luis Colon and got up by a head for her fourth consecutive victory and third straight stakes score.
In winning for the 15th time in 25 career starts for trainer Tim Hamm and owners Bruce Ryan and Blazing Meadows Farm, Needmore Flattery covered the distance over a sloppy track in 1:11.22.
Justalittlesmoke, a two-time stakes winner early in the season, had to settle for her third straight runner-up finish as the 2-1 second choice. Morant Bay finished third at 11-1, 7 1/2 behind Justalittlesmoke.