Royal Flag runs down Horologist to take Shuvee Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Royal Flag had been away from the races for 100 days, and at the top of the stretch in Sunday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Shuvee Stakes at Saratoga, the 5-year-old mare had just one beaten in the six-horse field.

Despite winding up in the seven-path under Joel Rosario in upper stretch, Royal Flag kicked hard in the last 75 yards to run down pacesetting Horologist and win the Shuvee by three-quarters of a length. Horologist held second by a head over Crystal Ball.

Gold Spirit was fourth, followed by Dunbar Road and Liberty M D. Antoinette was scratched after showing signs of colic, according to her trainer Bill Mott.

The victory was the fifth from 10 starts for Royal Flag, who finished second in this race last year to Letruska. Royal Flag’s previous stakes win came in the Grade 3 Turnback the Alarm Handicap at Aqueduct last November.

Royal Flag had raced just once this year, that being a head loss to Bonny South in the Grade 3 Doubledogdare at Keeneland on April 16. Trainer Chad Brown said Royal Flag was one of several horses who had their campaigns interrupted by a virus that went through his barn this spring.

The scratch of Antoinette in the Shuvee appeared to take some of the speed out of the race.

Mott, also the trainer of Horologist, didn’t like the tepid rides his filly was given in her previous two starts and told Junior Alvarado to send his filly out running from the one post. When Liberty M D, the apparent other speed in the race, bobbled at the break, Horologist opened up a 1 1/2-length lead after a quarter in 23.35 seconds.

A rank Liberty M D went up to challenge Horologist midway down the backstretch before retreating entering the far turn.

Meanwhile, Rosario had Royal Flag last of six, about six lengths off the pace. Rosario was contemplating an inside move around the far turn, but with Liberty M D backing up, he couldn’t do that.

Rosario continued to follow Irad Ortiz Jr. on Dunbar Road, and turning for home, Rosario went outside of that one. A tap of Rosario’s left-handed whip had Royal Flag in the seven-path, but when he straightened the mare out, she found another gear and got up.

“I wanted to have a clean run when I started moving so I decided to let her be out there,” Rosario said. “When she started moving on the last turn with that stride she has, I was not even asking for everything, I felt she was going to run really big.”

Royal Flag, a daughter of Candy Ride owned and bred by William S. Farish, covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.42 over a track upgraded to fast. She returned $5.30 as the 8-5 favorite. Royal Flag now has a record of 5-3-2 from 10 starts.

“She may not have run a lot of times in her career but every time she shows up,” Brown said “This is her last season of racing, so I’m hoping she has a more consistent campaign and we get a few starts in her before she’s retired.”

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Brown said the logical next start for Royal Flag would be the Grade 1 Personal Ensign here Aug. 28.

Brown said he was a little disappointed the way Dunbar Road flattened out in the stretch to finish fifth. He was encouraged by the performance of Gold Spirit, who pressed the pace three-wide and hung in for fourth, beaten 2 1/2 lengths, in her first start in the U.S.

“It wasn’t the trip I wanted, but it’s something we can work with moving forward,” Brown said.

*** Royal Flag was one of four winning favorites in the pick-6 sequence which returned $2,871 for a $1 wager. There was a $257,811 carryover entering the day and an additional $1,170,811 was wagered into the pool.