Flashiest, who has outrun his odds in almost all six of his career starts, could continue that pattern in the Grade 2 Twilight Derby at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., on closing day next Sunday, Oct. 31.
A son of Mizzen Mast conditioned by Leonard Powell, Flashiest has three wins and two seconds, his lone disappointing performance an eventful 11th in the Grade 1 Saratoga Derby Invitational at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., last Aug. 7.
“When we shipped to Saratoga, the experience was too much for him,” the trainer explained. “He got really hot in the paddock and he got to be a handful for the jockey. The whole thing was a bit overwhelming.
“He had his first race in April of this year, so he's still quite immature. But once we got back to Del Mar and into his routine, he's been just fine.”
A three-year-old gelding, Flashiest has a win and a second over Santa Anita's turf course, and the mile and an eighth of the Twilight Derby should suit his strong stretch-running style.
“That should be the right distance for him,” Powell said, “and Abel (Cedillo) will ride him back.”.
Cedillo was aboard last out on Sept. 4 when second by three-quarters of a length at odds of nearly 13-1 in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby, and at nearly the same odds on July 16 when he guided him to victory by a head in the restricted Oceanside.
Flashiest worked four furlongs this morning in :50.40.
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