Royal Flag dominates Beldame, takes aim at BC Distaff
ELMONT, N.Y. - Royal Flag dominated Sunday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Beldame Stakes at Belmont Park to likely earn a spot in the starting gate for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Nov. 6 at Del Mar.
The improving 5-year-old Royal Flag was held in obeyance by Joel Rosario for the opening six furlongs of the Beldame, but when Rosario asked her to run she rallied seven wide in the lane, overhauled Horologist before the eighth pole, and drew off to a 4 1/4-length score.
Horologist, last year’s Beldame winner, finished second by a half-length over Miss Marissa. Gold Spirit was fourth, followed by Zaajel, Thankful, and Spice Is Nice.
The win was the sixth from 12 starts for Royal Flag, a 5-year-old daughter of Candy Ride owned William S. Farish and trained by Chad Brown. Royal Flag has never finished worse than third in her career, but she appears to be in her best form heading into what figures to be her most significant test in the Breeders’ Cup.
“She’s definitely improved throughout the course of the year,” Brown said. “I’m so appreciative of Mr. Farish to keep her in training. I was on the fence about it. He wanted to race her at 5 and she seems to have improved even more.”
Royal Flag was fifth early while Horologist, under Junior Alvarado, set a moderate pace, chased by Miss Marissa and Gold Spirit. Rosario began to swing Royal Flag to the outside around the far turn and went wider still straightening away for home.
Once Rosario straightened out Royal Flag, she kicked hard and drew clear. Royal Flag covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.02 and returned $3.40 as the favorite. Royal Flag got a 99 Beyer Speed Figure.
Rosario, who has ridden Royal Flag in all four of her races this year, said he kept Royal Flag so far outside by design.
“Sometimes when she’s [next to] another horse, she stays there a little bit,” Rosario said. “If I get her away from [them], I feel she’s kind of more focused.”
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In four starts this year, Royal Flag was beaten a head by Bonny South in the Grade 3 Doubledogdare at Keeneland, won the Grade 3 Shuvee at Saratoga and finished third, beaten just a half-length by Letruska, in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign at Saratoga.
In the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, Royal Flag will again be taking on Letruska, who added Sunday’s Grade 1 Spinster at Keeneland to her lengthy record of graded stakes wins to solidify her status as a strong Distaff favorite.
“I do have a lot of respect for Letruska, she’s the clear leader of the division, she’ll be tough to beat,” Brown said. “But coming within a half-length of her [in August] and our filly continuing to get a little faster and a little stronger, hopefully she can make up that half-length.”