Flashy Speed from Flashy Bull's Runners

It didn’t take long for freshman sire Flashy Bull  to show his flashy side as a stallion. His daughter Flashy Lassie started her career with a nine-length triumph at Churchill Downs in May for owner Barry L. King and then captured the year’s first graded stakes for 2-year-old fillies when she took the Debutante Stakes (gr. III) at Churchill June 25 (VIDEO). A day before the Debutante at Belmont Park, another of Flashy Bull’s daughters, Long Lake Stable’s Born Bullish, also scored by nine lengths when capturing a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race.

Brereton C. Jones, who stands 8-year-old Flashy Bull at his Airdrie Stud near Midway, Ky., took an early liking to the grade I-winning son of 1994 Horse of the Year Holy Bull out of the winning Mt. Livermore mare Iridescence.

“I watched him as a racehorse, and I was impressed by his physical presence when I first saw him,” Jones said. “He’s a dynamite-looking horse, and he’s the type of horse when people see him they want to breed to him. When it comes to standing a first-year stallion, having a physical presence and being a grade I winner give you a leg up.”

Unlike Flashy Lassie and Born Bullish, Flashy Bull wasn’t a flashy 2-year-old early on for owner West Point Thoroughbreds. Although he finished in the top four in his first four starts, all sprints, he didn’t win until October and that victory came at 1 1/16 miles at Belmont Park. He then finished a strong second to Bluegrass Cat in the Remsen Stakes (gr. II) at 1 1/8 miles at Aqueduct in November.

Flashy Bull, who was grade II stakes-placed twice at 1 1/8 miles at 3, was at his best at 4. He won the Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) at Churchill Downs and the William Donald Schaefer Handicap (gr. III) at Pimlico, both at 1 1/8 miles, and scored at seven furlongs at Gulfstream Park and at a mile at Aqueduct. He was retired with 13 top-three finishes from 19 starts and earnings of $844,313.

“Most people, myself included, thought we would have to wait a bit until his runners ran at longer distances because he was more of a two-turn horse, but that hasn’t been the case,” said Jones, who bought Flashy Bull from West Point. “His horses that are running so well now act like they want to go longer.”

“Born Bullish’s race was awesome,” Jones added. “She was getting stronger at the end. She looks like she’s definitely a two-turn horse. We’re getting so many reports that his horses have great speed but believe the best is yet to come.

“Flashy Bull wasn’t a sprinter, which allows a breeder to go to mares sired by speed-oriented stallions and still have a chance of getting a horse that can win at middle distances or longer.”

Several of Flashy Bull’s 2-year-olds brought hefty prices at the 2-year-olds in training sales. Born Bullish sold for $185,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.’s March sale, and another filly sold for $170,000 to Martin Racing and Carl Moore Management at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic April sale.

Flashy Bull, who stood for $10,000 his first year at stud, is represented by 96 2-year-olds. He stands for $6,000.