Flashy American wore down pacesetter Sonja's Angel in deep stretch to register her first graded stakes win in the $150,000 Sixty Sails Handicap (gr. III) April 19 at Hawthorne Racecourse (VIDEO).
Trained by Ken McPeek for Preston Stables, the 5-year-old Flashy Bull mare was ridden to victory by Chris Emigh in the 1 1/18-mile Sixty Sails. Flashy American defeated six other older fillies and mares, topping slight favorite Sonja's Angel by three-quarters of a length with Gamay Noir third. The final time was 1:50.36 on a fast track.
Flashy American redeemed herself after running sixth of seven in the Azeri Stakes (gr. II) at Oaklawn Park in her seasonal debut March 15 on a wet/fast track. The Sixty Sails victory was her first since taking the Locust Grove Stakes at Churchill Downs last September.
Sent off at odds of 5-2, Flashy American stalked in third early as Sonja's Angel, breaking from the rail, cleared the field for Martin Garcia and raced near the middle of the track with Dress the Part chasing on her outside. Dress the Part gave way on the far turn and Flashy American took up the challenge of catching Sonja's Angel, who led by two lengths at the three-eighths pole. Fractions were :24.17, :48.74, and 1:13.31.
Sonja's Angel continued to grind down the middle of the track through the lane as Flashy American angled to the inside and proved best over the final furlong under much urging from Emigh.
"I was in a perfect spot. I was smiling the whole way," Emigh said. "It was luck the speed stayed wide. I went as slow as I could go and then went through.
"Mr. McPeek told me she's not complicated, she's very easy to ride and she does whatever you want. I just sat up on her to tell her it's time to go, and that's when she ran. I had a little better trip than I expected, but I'll take it."
It was 3 3/4 lengths farther back to Rampart Stakes (gr. III) winner Gamay Noir and Tim Thornton in third. Brazilian-bred Ana Luisa ran fourth as Dixie Strike, Imposing Grace, and Dress the Part followed.
Bred in Kentucky by H & W Thoroughbreds out of the Quiet American mare Inn Between, Flashy American snapped a three-race losing streak while improving her career log to 8-3-3 in 26 starts with $515,163 in earnings.
Second choice Flashy American paid $7.80, $4, and $2.80 while keying a $22 exacta with Sonja's Angel, who returned $4.60 and $3. Gamay Noir paid $3.40.
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