Reagan’s Flame continued to show an affinity for Woodbine while making light work of a short field to win Saturday’s $175,000 Seaway Stakes (G3) at the Toronto oval.
Before Saturday’s card, the original field of eight in the seven-furlong sprint for fillies and mares, three-year-olds and upward, was reduced to four. Austere and defending Seaway champion Elysian Field were both vet scratches. Irish-bred Bessie Abott and two-time Grade 3-Hendrie winner Creed’s Gold were respective steward scratches.
Ridden by veteran Edgard Zayas, Reagan’s Flame broke slightly outward, but recovered and led briefly in the opening furlong, as the remaining quartet left the seven-furlong chute. Uphill Dance, with Jose Campos up, then sprung to the lead on the rail and showed the way through an opening quarter mile in :23.41. Reagan’s Flame tracked closely in second, Quadruple (GB) was third, and longshot Scat Girl trailed.
The order remained unchanged into the turn with Uphill Dance leading the foursome through an opening half-mile in :46.04. Inside the five-sixteenths, Zayas vigorously roused Reagan’s Flame, who responded by rolling up outside of Uphill Dance, commandeering the lead inside the one-eighths pole, and powering clear to score by three-and-a-quarter lengths while being geared down at the wire. The six-furlong split was 1:09.93 and the final running time was 1:22.64.
Reagan’s Flame stormed onto the Woodbine scene in early May, winning the Grade 3 Whimsical for new trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., earning a career high 95 Beyer Speed Figure. The five-year-old daughter of Flameaway was subsequently fifth in the Grade 3 Royal North on Woodbine’s inner turf, then a hard-charging third in her last race, the Grade 3 Hendrie Stakes, when returning to the local Tapeta surface.
“Last time, she was a bit unfortunate, but today in a small field, Edgard put her in a good spot and she did the rest,” said Joseph when reached by phone afterward.
Bred in Kentucky by Jason Hall, Herschel Martindale and Stephen Mott, Reagan’s Flame improved to 8-5-2 from 23 career starts. Owned by St Elias Stable, BAG Racing Stables LLC, Turf Express Inc and Watkins Diamond Stables LLC, the bay mare now boasts a record of three wins from four lifetime starts on synthetic surfaces. In addition to her two graded wins at Woodbine, Reagan’s Flame won a route race at Gulfstream Park in March for former conditioner Martin Drexler.
“She runs well on anything, but she’s gone to a whole other level on the Tapeta,” said Joseph, who mentioned the six-and-a-half-furlong Grade 2 Presque Isle Masters on September 18th could be next up for Reagan’s Flame.
The winner was listed at 3-1 on the morning line, but with the plethora of scratches, went postward as the 2-5 favourite and with no place or show betting, returned $2.80 for the win. Uphill Dance was second, Quadruple (GB) was third, and Scat Girl was fourth.
More News
