FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Michael Adolphson
(847) 385-7558
Barn Notes: Friday, April 25, 2014
In Today’s Notes:
- Flower Spell Ready to Bloom in 2014
FLOWER SPELL READY TO BLOOM IN 2014
Of the plethora of repeat performers at the 2013 Arlington International Racecourse meet, few repeatedly incited the kind of excitement Flower Spell derived. A tall, muscular and flashy chestnut whose prodigious size defied the fact that she was a mere 3-year-old filly, she displayed her wicked gate speed four times at the Chicagoland oval – including a nose victory over her elders on Opening Day in a five-furlong turf allowance.
In her other three Arlington starts, the daughter of Travers winner Flower Alley impressively dismantled the field in the Meafara Stakes by six lengths on the main course, finished a strong fifth – beaten just over three lengths after breaking through the gate and having to be reloaded – in the Grade III Chicago Handicap and then wheeled back a mere six days later to take an open allowance over five furlongs on the grass while showing a new stalking dimension.
This year, her trainer and part-owner Ingrid Mason hopes she can do even more at Arlington. Following a six-month break, the filly returned in two sprint stakes in 2014 – one on dirt and the other turf – at Gulfstream Park, but had realistic excuses in both. “I really don’t think she liked the humidity down there and she didn’t start very well, either,” Mason remarked. “She’s a much better filly than that and I’m glad she came back last out and ran her race.” In said Oaklawn Park allowance on April 4, the filly also co-owned by Dare to Dream Stable and Little Bear Racing flashed her speed through a quarter in :21.95 and half in :45.31 en route to being caught near the wire by the well regarded Dancin’ Lil.
“I really think she needed that race down there and it will help her,” Mason explained. “She’s doing great right now. I’m trying to enter her and been trying to find a race for her. There’s one on the 16th that I hope fills here at Arlington on the Polytrack. She really likes the track.”
Part-owner Michael Faber of Dare to Dream Stable agrees. “I really think she does well here and I would love for her to develop,” he explained. “I would love to see if she can maybe go back to the Chicago Handicap.”
In the meantime, first things first for the Mason barn and its star pupil. “I would like to see her win right off the bat right now and get her confidence back,” said Mason. “Then, we’ll look ahead.”
Such could also mean stretching out for the filly whose bloodlines, being out of a Seattle Battle (a son of Seattle Slew) mare, wreak of stamina. “Right now, she just wants to take off and run – that’s her. She wants to do her own thing and she hates when the bit touches her mouth,” Mason continued. “But, she’s definitely bred to go longer. First, though, I want to see her run one or two more times and see her finish strong before any of that happens.”
-END-
David Zenner│Senior Manager of Communications
Arlington International Racecourse
2200 W. Euclid Ave. Arlington Heights IL 60006-0007
P 847.385.7535│C: 847.371.1670 | F: 847.870.6727│E: David.Zenner@arlingtonpark.com
Twitter: @dave_zenner, @arlingtonracing
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