Dynaforce repelled a challenge from heavily favored Mauralakana at the top of the stretch to power away to a four-length victory in the $588,000 Flower Bowl Invitational (gr. IT) (VIDEO) at Belmont Park Sept. 27.
Mauralakana held second by a neck over Communique, who finished third in the five-horse field. Hostess was scratched because of the bog-like conditions of the turf.
Dynaforce, owned and bred by Dr. John A. Chandler, was ridden by Alan Garcia.
Garcia hustled Dynaforce to the early lead in the 1 1/4-mile Flower Bowl and established dawdling fractions of :26.23, :52.87, 1:19.22, and 1:43.45. Her final time was 2:07.59 over the “yielding” inner turf course.
Maurakalana, ridden by Kent Desormeaux, was rated in fourth position down the backstretch. Running as the 3-5 favorite, Mauralakana drew even with Dynaforce at the top of the lane, and looked poised to sweep by the pacesetter. Dynaforce, however, kicked into another gear and quickly left the rest of the field in her wake.
“It was an easy trip,” said Garcia, who won the Flower Bowl last year aboard Lahudood. “She broke well and let me take the lead. I went head to head with (Rafael) Bejarano (aboard Jade Queen) and we had Mauralakana beat. In the last strides, Dynaforce showed her stuff.”
Desormeaux had ridden Dynaforce in her last two starts, but was committed to ride Mauralakana who had won five of six stakes this year.
“The lack of pace and the soft going probably compromised my chances,” Desormeaux said.
Trained by Bill Mott, Dynaforce returned $8.60 as the third choice.
“I'm real proud of her,” Mott said. “I saw the fractions and I thought the turf was pretty soft – I mean (2:07.59) for a mile and a quarter.”
Mott said he will discuss with Chandler the possibility of running Dynaforce in the Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (gr. IT).
Dynaforce, a 5-year-old daughter of Dynaformer out of the Diesis mare Aletta Maria, finished second in the Diana (gr.IT) at Saratoga in July. She was also second in the New York Handicap (gr.IIT) to Mauralakana – beaten a neck -- at Belmont in June. Dynaforce began her career in France with trainer Andre Fabre.
The Flower Bowl was her first win on American soil and her first graded win. The win brought Dynaforce’s earnings to $614,772. She has a record of 4-3-2 in 11 starts.