Her Majesty’s Flag, with Omar Moreno up for the first time, was full of run down the lane to capture Sunday’s co-featured $127,750 Duchess Stakes, at Woodbine.
Trained by David Cotey for owners Dominion Bloodstock and Barry Butzer, the chestnut daughter of Midshipman-Regal Point arrived at the seven furlong ‘Poly’ sprint for sophomore fillies from a disappointing run in the grassy Alywow Stakes.
However, Her Majesty’s Flag overcame a bout with thumps following the Alywow effort and redeemed herself with an energetic stretch run to earn her first added-money score.
Midnight Milley was slow from the gate in the Duchess, but rallied quickly up the rail under Alan Garcia to assume command through splits of :22.96 and :45.29 with her four rivals stalking in close proximity.
Pohdi Pohdi and Her Majesty’s Flag advanced through the turn with the latter moving best of all to secure a 3/4-length win. Roaming rallied late to earn place money, a neck in front of Pohdi Pohdi. Her Majesty’s Flag covered seven furlongs in 1:22.91.
Moreno was full of praise for Her Majesty’s Flag.
“I thought we were going to be a little further away, but she was so comfortable being up there and when I asked her she just kept going. She felt good today,” said Moreno.
Her Majesty’s Flag graduated at first asking on May 23, 2014 with a rallying effort in a maiden allowance sprint and completed the campaign with a fifth-place run in the Glorious Song Stakes. The chestnut opened the 2015 campaign with a good 1 ¾-length score in an optional claiming sprint, before off-the-board finishes in the Grade 3 Selene and Alywow.
Bred in Kentucky by Sun Valley Farm, Her Majesty’s Flag banked $75,000 in victory while improving her record to three wins from six starts.
She paid $39.70, $14 and $4 combining with Roaming ($3.90, $2.80) for a $143.80 (6-5) exactor. A 6-5-1 triactor (Pohdi Pohdi, $2.10 to show) was worth $223.40. Watch This Cat was scratched.
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