Issue link: http://nytbreeders.epubxp.com/i/817947
28 New York Breeder | nytbreeders.org | May 2017 Racing JOE LABOZZETTA/NYRA Oaklawn Park, before owner Dwight Pruett (Xpress Thoroughbreds) of Tex - arkana, Ark., sold 75% of her to New York interests, including Head of Plains Partners. The flly (trained by Jinks Fires) was then transferred to the care of trainer Chad Brown, and the bettors at Aqueduct established her as the heavy 1-5 favorite. Away from the gate, jockey Kendrick Carmouche, who has been a dominant force in New York over the winter and spring due to his aggressive riding, im - mediately seized the lead upon Bluegrass Flag from the projected front-runner No - ble Freud and never relinquished it. Bluegrass Flag raced an opening quarter mile in 22.71 and a half-mile in 45.48. She appeared to be doing it well within herself and was never really threatened by the favorite, who was al - ways on the chase. In the lane Bluegrass Flag found an - other gear and strode away from her six sophomore rivals, registering her sec - ond straight six-length victory. "My flly ran a gorgeous race today," said Carmouche. "What a good job by Thomas Morley and his team. All I had to do was sit on her and get her around and make her look good." Morley was occupied in Ocala, Fla., with the Ocala Breeders' Sales April sale. His assistant Ron Breed did the saddling. The trainer was also repre - sented by his wife, New York Racing Association analyst Maggie Wolfendale, who excitedly sprinted into the winner's circle, hugging her team and shouting, "Yes! Hell, yes!" Bluegrass Flag stopped the timer for the 6 1 ⁄ 2 -furlong event in 1:16.67. "We had made this trip coming over here on the van fve times (from Blue - grass Flag's Belmont Park stall to Aq- ueduct). This is also our ffth race. That gave us a big experience edge on the fa - vorite who had never run in New York before," said Albrecht. Susanne and James Hooper are the co-breeders of Bluegrass Flag, who has earned $173,220. Noble Freud, also co-owned by Mi - chael Kisber and Medallion Racing, secured the runner-up spot in the Park Avenue. Sackatoga Stable's Frosty Gal (by Frost Giant), from the barn of train - er Barclay Tagg, rallied smartly through the stretch to fnish third. MORE GOLD Francis Paolangeli's homebred Gold for the King (by Posse) was a dominant force in the state-bred sprint division at 2. He captured two races, includ - ing the New York Breeders' Futurity at Finger Lakes, while banking more than $310,000. If the gelding's comeback race as a 3-year-old in the $100,000 Times Square Division of the New York Stal - lion Series April 23 is any indication of what's to come this season, then his rivals in restricted, and possibly open company as well, will surely have their hands full with the consistent and tal - ented Charlton Baker-trained runner. "He's a nice horse, and he can over - come anything," said Baker, not only al- luding to his trainee's four-month layoff, but also the shoe repair he encountered in the paddock prior to the race. "This year we may have to venture out a little bit (into open races)." Last Dec. 17 in the New York Stallion Series Stakes, the late-running Gold for the King was inhibited by a strong rail/ front-running bias over the inner track. He fnished second that day to Bavaro (by Freud), despite putting in a sweep - ing and monstrously threatening run on the far turn. The switch back to the main track for the Times Square only aided his closing style as Gold for the King swung four-wide into the lane be - neath jockey Joel Rosario, after a con- tested opening half-mile in 45:27. Through the fnal furlong Gold for the King outkicked a resolute runner-up in Hoffman Thoroughbreds' homebred T Loves a Fight (by Girolamo), who was making his stakes debut after three con - secutive victories. Gold for the King scored by 1 3 ⁄ 4 lengths, getting the 6 1 ⁄ 2 furlongs in 1:16.53. "He has a big long stride, so once he got going he was clear," said Baker. Out of the Gold Token mare Gold for the Queen, the gelding's race record stands at 4-1-2 from seven starts and earnings of $370,568. Runner-up T Loves a Fight, who has fnished frst or second in his last fve races, is ably trained by Mike Hushion. West Point Thoroughbreds' Reason to Soar (by Soaring Empire) fnished third. Gold for the King outkicks T Loves a Fight in the Times Square