Loud Mouth Headlines Field For California Flag Handicap At Santa Anita

Loud Mouth, fresh and fit after being promoted to victory in the E. B. Johnston Stakes at Los Alamitos on Sept. 12, his first race in three months, returns to the turf in Sunday's $100,000 California Flag Handicap at about 6 ½ furlongs at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif.

A five-year-old full horse by Boisterous trained by Steve Knapp for owner Ron Thomsen, Loud Mouth's lone grass win came in a $32,000 claiming sprint at Santa Anita on Feb. 17, 2020.

“He's got plenty of speed for Abel (Cedillo) to come out of the gate and place the horse where he wants,” Knapp said. “The horse is doing very well right now. He had a three-month rest because he needed it. Now he's starting to come around again.”

Winner of the $100,000 Cary Grant for Cal-breds at Del Mar last Nov. 22, Loud Mouth has eight wins from 29 starts with earnings of $374,070.

“Ron's been with me for three or four years and we've done well together,” Knapp said. “He's got nine horses with me now.”

The California Flag goes as race seven of nine with a 1 p.m. first post time: Give Me the Lute, Kent Desormeaux, 3-1; Ground Attack, Edwin Maldonado, 20-1; Tiger Dad, Victor Espinoza, 20-1; North County Guy, Umberto Rispoli, 5-2; Loud Mouth, Abel Cedillo, 8-1; Unbridled Ethos, Ricardo Gonzalez, 12-1; Whooping Jay Joe Bravo, 4-1; Desmond Doss, Kyle Frey, 6-1; and Indian Peak, Juan Hernandez, 6-1.

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Fluffy Socks Makes Late Run To Take Sands Point At Belmont

In the Grade 2 Sands Point at Belmont, Joel Rosario and Fluffy Socks gave trainer Chad Brown another stakes win over the Belmont Park turf, rallying late to win by a neck at the Elmont, N.Y., track.

From the opening strides of the 1 1/8-mile Sands Point, Higher Truth led the field of seven, controlling the pace with a one-length lead over Our Flash Drive. With fractions of :25.34 for the first quarter and :50.14 for the half-mile, the other Chad Brown trainee looked poised to take the race gate to wire. Behind her, Rosario held Fluffy Socks midpack, content to sit 4th or 5th until the stretch.

In the Belmont straight, Rosario took Fluffy Socks to the outside of front-runners Higher Truth and Our Flash Dive, with Runaway Rumour following. Fluffy Socks caught a tiring Higher Truth in the final sixteenth of a mile and then was able to hold off Runaway Rumour to win the G2 stakes by a neck.

The final time for the 1 1/8 miles was 1:48.48. Find this race's chart here.

Fluffy Socks paid $10.20, $5.60, and $3.00. Runaway Rumour paid $10.80 and $4.30. Higher Truth paid $2.10.

Bred in Kentucky by owner Head of Plains Racing, Fluffy Socks is by Slumber (GB) out of the Kitten's Joy mare Breakfast Time. With her win in the G2 Sands Point, the 3-year-old filly has one win in five starts in 2021, for a lifetime record of 10-4-3-1 and career earnings of $430,880.

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The Mean Queen Rules Grand National At Far Hills

Under rider Richard Condon, The Mean Queen (IRE) sat patiently behind longshot Amschel for the first two miles of the 2 5/8-mile Grand National and then made her move on the last turn to take the lead and win the Grade 1 stakes at Far Hills Races in Far Hills, N.J.

In the race's opening strides, Amschel took the lead over The Mean Queen, Snap Decision, and Chosen Mate, his lead five to six lengths throughout the first two miles. The field of four were content to run in that order until they approached the race's last turn. Condon sent The Mean Queen to the lead, overtaking Amschel as Snap Decision made his move behind her. Entering the Far Hills straight, Snap Decision and The Mean Queen dueled, but the 5-year-old mare held the advantage throughout their stretch run, pulling ahead to a half-length victory over Snap Decision. Amschel and Chosen Mate rounded out the field.

The Mean Queen paid $3.80 and $2.40. Snap Decision paid $2.20. With a short field of four, there was no show betting for the Grand National.

Bred in Ireland by Kevin Purfield, The Mean Queen is by Doyen (IRE) out of the Kris Kin mare Gail Borden (IRE). She is owned by Buttonwood Farm and trained by Keri Brion. Consigned by Ashgreen Stud, the 5-year-old mare was sold for $9,468 to Baltymore Stables at the 2019 Tattersalls Ireland August National Hunt. With her win in the Grand National, The Mean Queen has a record of five wins in six starts in 2021 and a lifetime record of six wins in nine starts.

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Gufo Likely for BC Turf

Otter Bend Stables' Gufo (Declaration of War), who earned a berth into the GI Breeders' Cup Turf with a win in the Aug. 28 GI Sword Dancer S., remains on track for the 12-furlong test at Del Mar Nov. 5. Trainer Christophe Clement said a breeze next weekend will likely determine Gufo's Breeders' Cup status. The chestnut was third most recently in the Oct. 9 Saturday's GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic.

“We are training him to go to the Breeders' Cup at the moment,” said Clement. “I will speak to [Otter Bend Stables owner] Mr. Cainelli in the coming week for the plan and we'll make a decision. He'll breeze next weekend and then we'll assess him after the work.”

The 4-year-old recorded his most recent breeze at Belmont Oct. 3, going four furlongs in :48.80.

Victorious in last season's GI Belmont Derby Invitational, he returned this year to annex Belmont's Grand Couturier S. in July before earning his second Grade I win in the Sword Dancer. He also finished second and third, respectively, in this spring's GI Man o' War S. and GI Manhattan S.

Also working for Clement at Belmont Saturday, graded stakes-placed pair Soldier Rising (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and City Man (Mucho Macho Man) breezed in company over the inner turf in :47.20. Runner up in the GI Saratoga Derby Invitational and Jockey Club Derby Invitational, Soldier Rising will target the Oct. 23 GII Hill Prince S. at Belmont. City Man, a three-time New York-bred stakes winner, will make his next start in the $200,000 Mohawk S. as part of the Empire Showcase Day Oct. 30.

“They worked a touch quick, but they worked well,” Clement said. “They came back in good order and are in good shape so far.”

Also on the work tab for Clement was Moyglare Stud Farm's Beautiful Lover (Arch), who went an easy half-mile in :52.10. The 5-year-old will target Belmont's $100,000 Zagora S. Oct. 31.

“She worked well. It was a slow, but by design. She finished up nicely,” Clement added.

A last-out fifth in the GIII Fasig-Tipton Waya S. Oct. 3, Beautiful Lover won a 1 1/16-mile allowance optional claimer at Belmont June 27. The Florida-bred, who earned black-type with a win in the 2019 Boiling Springs S. at Monmouth, also placed in that season's GII Hillsborough S. and GIII Matchmaker S.

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