Just a little bit of patience and the Romeo family’s Terra Racing and trainer Kevin Attard got to see what the almost-black filly FASHIONABLY FAB was able to do in 2023. A fourth generation (!) product of the very successful boutique breeding program of Dom Romeo that began almost 50 years ago, Fashionably Fab began the year in a bit of a tailspin but on December 9, pulled away for her fourth straight stakes victory under her favourite rider, Patrick Husbands.
The result was no surprise to anyone, as only four rivals were facing the three-year-old by Silent Name (Jpn) – Flashy’s Legacy by Curlin and fans worldwide made her 3-to-5. She tracked stablemate Strega early in the 1 1/16 mile race which was run on a very mild Toronto afternoon over a slow Tapeta surface. Early splits were 25.37 and 50.52, 1:14.77 and Fashionably Fab went past her mate three furlongs from home on her way to a 2 1/2 length win. The final time of 1:45.60 was good for an 84 Beyer Speed Figure according to Daily Racing Form.
“We were hoping to see this earlier in the year, when we were heading into the [Woodbine] Oaks, but things didn’t go quite so well back then,” said Attard of the ninth-place result in the country’s premier race for Canadian-foaled three-year-old fillies. “It’s just nice to see her turn the corner now and be the filly we had hoped she was going to be.”
A three-time winner at two and winner of the Shady Well Stakes, Fashionably Fab was fifth in the Fury Stakes before fading in the Woodbine Oaks. Her winning streak began following a third place finish in the Bison City Stakes behind Me and My Shadow. She tallied the Rondeau Bay at Fort Erie on dirt, the two-turn Eternal Search on the inner turf at Woodbine, and the Ashbridges Bay on Nov. 10 at 1 1/16 miles at Woodbine.
She now has seven wins in 11 races and $320,693 (US) in earnings.
Fashionably Fab traces back to the 1983-born mare FLASHY CHESTNUT, who was bought as a yearling and raced by Dom Romeo. The daughter of Briartic was very quick and a hard-knocking mare who won five of 34 races and some $74,000.
Romeo sent Flashy Chestnut to the breeding shed and she produced one of the best horses he has ever owned – BOLD N’ FLASHY, who won four stakes races at Pimlico, Arlington, Garden State, etc., and traveled overseas a couple of times to fare okay against top sprinters. Flashy Chestnut also produced Grade 3 stakes winner Flashy n Smart for Romeo and unraced Regent n’ Flashy.
The latter gave Romeo and his family his first Queen’s Plate winner as BIG RED MIKE, named for Dom’s grandson, strolled to win the 2010 edition in front of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.
Regent n’ Flashy had 11 winning foals including FLASHY’S LEGACY, dam of Fashionably Fab. The mare has also produced multiple-stakes placed Souper Flashy and promising maiden Flashinthesky.
With so many of Canada’s longtime breeders having exited the business, Terra Racing continues to go strong under the management of Dom’s son Frank and his son Mike. The majority of Dom’s horses are named for family members but Flashy’s Legacy is well-named for a legacy started by Flashy Chestnut.
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