Red Mile: Flanagan Memory rallies to Allerage Open Trot title

Flanagan Memory and Brian Sears converted on a third-over trip to capture the $101,000 Allerage Farms Open Trot at The Red Mile on Sunday afternoon.

The second choice at 3-2, Flanagan Memory got away at the back of the pack early as Musical Rhythm left alertly from the inside and J L Cruze took flight from the outside as the gate opened. Musical Rhythm relinquished command past the 27 2/5 opening quarter and allowed John Campbell and J L Cruze the racetrack.

Past the half in 55 4/5, favored Obrigado and driver Mark MacDonald took up the chase without cover, followed on the outside by Crazy Wow and Flanagan Memory in that order. Campbell kept the pace moderate as Obrigado turned up the heat ever so slightly on the final turn, with the three-quarters passed in 1:24 1/5.

The table was set as Obrigado lagged into the stretch and Crazy Wow fired wide, but Flanagan Memory was full of trot and just rolled over the leaders easily in 1:51 2/5, with Crazy Wow getting the place spot and pacemaker J L Cruze third. Favored Obrigado faded to sixth.

“I was happy to be third-over,” said Sears following the race. “He loves to finish up the last quarter.”

Flanagan Memory moves on to the $1 million International Trot at Yonkers in six days as does Obrigado.