Royal Flag rallies to capture Turnback the Alarm Handicap

Royal Flag put in a sustained run to get past dueling leaders Mrs. Orb and Nonna Madeline and win the Grade 3, $100,000 Turnback the Alarm Handicap on Saturday at Aqueduct.

Royal Flag won by 2 1/4 lengths over Mrs. Orb, while it was another 1 1/2 lengths back in third to Nonna Madeline.

The 1 1/8-mile race was for fillies and mares.

Royal Flag ($4.10) raced in fourth early as Graceful Princess took the field through an opening quarter in 24.38 seconds, a half-mile in 49.52, and six furlongs in 1:15.23 before being overtaken by Nonna Madeline and Mrs. Orb. Royal Flag launched a determine bid on the final turn and continued her momentum in the stretch to move past the leaders and cover the distance on a track rated fast in 1:54.08.

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“She comes from off the pace, but I got a great trip,” winning rider Trevor McCarthy told the publicity department at Aqueduct. “I was able to save some ground and then got her outside, and she gave me a great kick. She's a nice filly and she gave me everything she had.”

Chad Brown trains Royal Flag for Will Farish. Farish also bred Royal Flag, who is a half-sister to multiple Grade 2 winner Catalina Cruiser and a full sister to Grade 3 winner Eagle. Royal Flag was winning her first stakes, and her record now stands at four wins from eight starts for earnings of $245,520.

Illegal Smile leads all the way in Stewart Manor

Illegal Smile won her maiden in the $100,000 Stewart Manor, when she set a quick pace and prevailed by 1 1/4 lengths in the six-furlong turf sprint for 2-year-old fillies. Honey Pants was second, two lengths clear of third-place finisher Lexinator.

Illegal Smile ($10.40) took the field through fractions of 21.97 for the opening quarter and 44.89 for the half-mile. She then comfortably held off a bid from Honey Pants while covering the distance on firm ground in 1:08.52.

Cristian Torres was aboard for Hat Creek Racing and trainer Wesley Ward. Illegal Smile had run second in back-to-back stakes at Woodbine before landing in the Stewart Manor. She is a daughter of Camacho and was bred in Ireland.