Flashy Margaritta, with Patrick Husbands aboard, made every pole a winning one while taking the Thanksgiving feature, the $125,400 Bull Page Stakes, Monday at Woodbine.
Bred and trained by Ralph Biamonte, Flashy Margaritta, a gelded son of Bold n’ Flashy-Ritta, showed eight other juvenile colts and geldings his heels the entire six furlong trip, clicking off a blistering 22.57 opening quarter, then reaching the half in 45.59 while holding a two-length advantage.
Turning for home, the leader braced for the challenge from the odds-on choice, Spin the King, and successfully repulsed the stretch-long threat, crossing the wire one length in front of his rival in 1:09.99 over the Polytrack. Spadina Road closed for third, two and one-half lengths further back.
Co-owned by Danny Lococo and Mary Biamonte, Flashy Margaritta entered the Bull Page off a resounding nine-length maiden tally in August, after a fifth-place finish in his career debut a month earlier.
“He’s a nice horse,” said Husbands. “The (post position) draw was on my side (over the favourite, who had the rail). But my horse ran the way he was training. He was sharp in the paddock, but he’s a young horse. He did everything professionally. He was just waiting for the other horse, then he really put his head down and ran. He’s built like a little brickhouse.”
Added Biamonte, “The first race, we didn’t break that well. My horse just kind of shied from that. (Jockey) Eurico (Rosa da Silva) sent him out (to the lead) the second time. I think that’s the secret with him. You just gotta go.”
Sent postward the 9-2 second choice in the Ontario Sires stake, Flashy Margaritta paid $11.60, $4.20 and $3.10, combining with Spin the King ($2.50, $2.10) for a $22.40 (6-1) exactor. A 6-1-8 (Spadina Road, $3.50) triactor was worth $70.20 while a $1 Superfecta [6-1-8-7 (Figy’s Mobil Pride)] came back $251.
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