Sunday, May 23, 2010

NEW YORK WATCH: FLAWLESS

**Please see attached photo of Flawless. Credit NYRA, Adam Coglianese. To see the race replay, visit the New York Watch website, http://www.nyra.com/nywatch/Flawless.html**

 

 

Sunday, May 23, 2010

 

Contact: Jon Forbes

jforbes@nyrainc.com

NEW YORK WATCH: FLAWLESS

 

ELMONT, N.Y. – Flawless lived up to the lofty expectations implied by her name, drawing off to 13 ¼-length debut triumph at Belmont Park to become the 12th horse featured in the New York Watch series, which shines the spotlight on promising colts and fillies that have recently cleared the maiden and allowance ranks at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park, or Saratoga Race Course. The New York Watch page for Flawless is located at http://www.nyra.com/nywatch/Flawless.html

 

The Peter Blum homebred was no secret in today's second race, going off as the 11-10 favorite. With Kent Desormeaux in the irons, she broke on top and led through a half of 46.57. Two opponents lined up to her outside nearing the quarter pole, but the crowd's selection turned away those challengers and needed only mild urging in the stretch to spurt clear to a dominant victory over runner-up Click Your Heels, a full-sister to the 2004 Grade 1 Wood Memorial winner Tapit.

 

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott believes the best is yet to come from Flawless, who covered seven furlongs in 1:23.71 over a main track that had been playing on the slow side.

 

"She wasn't cranked. She was only half ready," Mott said with a grin. "She's worked very well and has a lot of ability."

 

Mott said Flawless will go through her allowance conditions before she competes in a stakes race.

 

"With as well as she ran on the dirt today, we'll leave her there for now," added Mott. "It looked like another furlong wouldn't hurt her."

 

Flawless is by Mr. Greeley and is the first foal out of the unraced mare Oyster Baby. Her second dam, Really Fancy, produced Dixie Holiday, who in turn produced black-type winner Holiday Runner. Seventh Street, winner of last year's Grade 1 Apple Blossom and Grade 1 Go for Wand Handicap, is a daughter of Holiday Runner.

 

Another impressive maiden winner on the card was Safety Check, who won the fourth race by seven lengths in his second start. Safety Check, a son of the 1989 Champion Sprinter and 1990 Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Safely Kept, negotiated seven furlongs in 1:22.99. Trained by Alan Goldberg for breeder Richard Santulli, who joined forces to campaign Safely Kept, the Empire Maker colt had finished third at Philadelphia Park on May 10 in his debut.

 

Many of the industry's brightest stars embarked upon their careers at the NYRA tracks, including a number of recent Triple Crown race winners. Big Brown, Jazil, Birdstone, Funny Cide, and Empire Maker are all among the Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes victors that kick-started their careers at Aqueduct, Belmont Park, or Saratoga.

 

The list also includes a brilliant triumvirate of fillies that broke their maidens at Aqueduct. Flashing, Little Belle, and Music Note all registered their first victories at the Big A before going on to win major Grade 1 races within the last two years.

 

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