Seek and Destroy relishes slop in Chelsey Flower win

Javier Castellano put Seek and Destroy right on the lead in the $100,000 Chelsey Flower, and the daughter of Verrazano splashed her way to a 3 1/2-length victory in the one-mile race for 2-year-old fillies, which was originally scheduled for turf but moved to a sloppy main track.

The Chelsey Flower had 11 entrants but scratched down to six runners who were very strung out at the finish.

Seek and Destroy was entered for the main track only by trainer Chad Brown.

"The way she ran, I think she liked a muddy track," Castellano said. "She can just gallop along on the lead. I was very impressed.”

Seek and Destroy, owned by e Five Racing Thoroughbreds, paid $7.70 and was timed in 1:39.78. A $425,000 buy at the 2017 Keeneland September sale, she had won an off-the-turf maiden race by 9 1/4 lengths while making her third career start Oct. 8.

Hollywood Story and Take Ten, who are owned by Courtlandt Farms and trained by Mark Hennig, finished second and third, separated by 6 1/4 lengths.

Shoobiedoobydoo, the 8-5 favorite, raced just off the winner early but tired to finish fifth, beaten 24 lengths. Two Dozen Roses, the 3-1 third choice, raced in a good early position outside horses but also faltered to finish fourth, beaten 16 lengths.