Storm Flag Flying Works, Heads North
West -- Everest
Stable's Island Fashion, a winless 3-year-old filly when the day began,
rallied from well off the pace to score a sharp two-length victory in
Saturday's inaugural running of the $250,000 WinStar Oaks at New
Mexico's Sunland Park.
The victory was the first in three career races for the Nick
Canani-trained daughter of Petionville and it could earn the filly a
trip to Churchill Downs for the 129th running of the Kentucky Oaks
(Grade I) on May 2. The California invader finished fourth to
stablemate Harbor Blues in her career debut in the Arizona Oaks at Turf
Paradise in early February and followed that race with a narrow loss in
a 6 1/2-furlong maiden race at Santa Anita.
Island Fashion ended her short victory drought with style as she
rallied from eighth under jockey Ignacio Puglisi and rolled past the
pacesetting Ela Ela in the final furlong. Longshot Isit Still Legal was
third with the well-regarded Himalayan
fourth and favored Souris finished a nonthreatening fifth.
"Nick said to be real aggressive," said Puglisi. "I was looking
for a good spot behind horses so that I could punch home late. We
started to pick off horses one at a time. I angled her outside and she
came home strong."
Island Fashion completed the one-mile distance in 1:36.29, which
was less than a second off the track record.
After the race Canani said a trip to Churchill Downs was
possible for his filly.
"She is one of those fillies that took a while to come around,"
he said. "There is a chance we'll go."
The WinStar Oaks marks the second time this year that a
Canani-trained filly scored her first career victory in stakes company.
Harbor Blues was a maiden when she won the Arizona Oaks by 11 1/2
lengths in her sixth career start.
Central -- Claiborne Farm
and Adele Dilschneider's Yell, winner of the Davona Dale (GII) at
Gulfstream Park, tuned up for Saturday's Ashland Stakes (GI) at
Keeneland with a sharp four-furlong workout on Monday at the Lexington,
Ky. track.
The daughter of A.P. Indy breezed this distance over a "fast"
track in :48, the fastest of 11 moves at the distance.
Yell won the Davona Dale by six lengths over Ivanavinalot, who
returned to win the Bonnie Miss (GII) in her next outing. She is 3-0-1
in four races, with one of those victories coming via disqualification.
The Shug McGaughey-trained filly will be ridden in the Ashland
by John Velazquez , where she is expected to have a rematch with
Ivanavinalot. Other likely Ashland contenders include unbeaten Fair
Grounds Oaks (GII) winner Lady Tak and Hollywood Futurity (GI) winner
Elloluv.
Southeast -- Ogden Mills
Phipps' Storm Flag Flying, the reigning
2-year-old filly champion, ended her winter in Florida with a solid five
furlong breeze on Monday at Gulfstream Park.
The daughter of Storm Cat breezed the distance over a 'fast'
track in 1:02.80, the sixth-fastest move of 17 at the distance. The
day's fastest five furlong work was turned in by 2002 Kentucky Oaks
runner-up Take Charge Lady, who covered the distance in 1:00.80.
Storm Flag Flying was scheduled to catch a plane to New York's
Belmont Park Monday afternoon.
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