Berkeley, Calif. (March 31, 2018)- Grade 2 winner Flamboyant saved ground on the far turn and swinging for home before diving to the lead at the eighth pole and holding off a late challenge from second-place finisher Editore to win The $200,000 Grade 3 San Francisco Mile for older horses.
“My horse is a good horse,” said winning jockey Julien Couton. “He showed he had something left in the tank. He gave me his all today.”
Flamboyant, trained by Paddy Gallagher, had not won a race since 2016 when the French-bred son of Peer Gynt was victorious in The Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes at Santa Anita. With this victory, Flamboyant became racing’s newest millionaire, with $1,081,916 career earnings from 34 starts.
“The horse ran well and Julien rode him terrific so it all worked out good,” said winning trainer Gallagher. “We love him and he’s just a terrific horse.”
Editore, winner of The Berkeley Handicap in November, finished second after sitting in midfield and making a bid for the lead at the eighth pole. Many Roses, who ran third in the 2017 San Francisco Mile, completed the trifecta once again while Syntax ended up running fourth. The Phil D’Amato trainee had previously finished behind a trio of runners in The Frank Kilroe Mile earlier this month.
Flamboyant defeated 11 other runners in The San Francisco Mile, the feature race of the 2017/2018 meet at Golden Gate Fields and stopped the clock for one mile on firm turf in 1:36.15 seconds.
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