Team Penney Racing’s Flipcup, with Alan Garcia up, arrived in the final stride to collar Obeah Woman in Sunday’s $125,000 Classy n’ Smart Stakes.
Trained by Bill Mott, the New York-bred daughter of Milwaukee Brew started her career at Woodbine in 2013 under the tutelage of trainer Brian Lynch winning her first two starts en route to a third-place run in the South Ocean Stakes. Based in New York since 2014, Flipcup returned to Woodbine last August to finish second in the Eternal Search Stakes.
This time, however, Flipcup would not be denied a victorious homecoming as she rallied stoutly down the lane to earn a neck score.
Silent Treat set the tempo in the Classy n’ Smart marking off splits of :24.83 and :49.96 under pressure from Ida Bambina and Clarkston Hope. Flipcup, settled in sixth position under Garcia, travelled wide into the far turn as Obeah Woman shot along the rail to take the lead from the pacesetters. Flipcup, game and determined, needed the length of the stretch to reel in the stubborn Obeah Woman for a narrow neck score. She covered 1 1/16-miles in 1:44.38.
Garcia was pleased with his filly’s tenacity in the stretch run.
“She was so comfortable. I know I lost a little ground in the second turn, but she got the job done,” said Garcia. “The more I ride, the more she tried. She never gave up. The owner told me she has a good kick, just try and save some ground through the first turn and then come get it. And she did.
“When she saw the horse inside her, she grabbed the bridle and ran on again at the end.”
It was the third added-money score for Flipcup who captured the East View Stakes at Aqueduct in 2013 and the New York Oaks in 2014 at Finger Lakes.
Flipcup banked $75,000 in victory while improving her record to 5-4-5 from 16 career starts.
She paid $8.20, $5.10 and $4, combining with Obeah Woman ($6.70, $3.90) for a $50.60 (9-1) exactor. A 9-1-8 triactor (Kavika, $7 to show) was worth $542.20, while a $1 Superfecta [9-1-8-5 (Lynnessa)] came back $1740.25. London Tower was scratched.
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