Locally based Flying Connection turned in a powerful front-running performance Sunday to stamp her ticket to the GI Kentucky Oaks. The bay closed out last season with a convincing tally in the Zia Princess S., and resurfaced in the local Borderplex S. to be third at 30 cents on the dollar. She bounced back while stretching out to best Love Tank by more than nine lengths in the Island Fashion S. Feb. 28, but had to contend with Bob Baffert-trained invader Doinitthehardway this time.
Able to seize a narrow advantage into the first turn from the hard-ridden odds-on Doinitthehardway, Flying Connection posted splits of :22.89, :46.09 and 1:11.14. She was all by herself at that point, and kept on kicking to pick up 50 Kentucky Oaks points.
Nyquist also sired last year’s GIII Sunland Derby winner Slow Down Andy, and the runner-up in this year’s renewal. The winner’s dam raced almost exclusively in sprints on synthetic, including when third in the 2009 GI Breeders’ Cup F/M Sprint. The daughter of MGSW Ruby Surprise (Farma Way) has a 2-year-old colt named Laugh for Sul (Practical Joke, $40K KEESEP), and a yearling colt by McKinzie. She most recently visited Constitution.
SUNLAND PARK OAKS, $300,000, Sunland, 3-26, 3yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:43.90, ft.
1–FLYING CONNECTION, 121, f, 3, by Nyquist
1st Dam: Free Flying Soul (MSW & MGISP, $423,177), by Quiet American
2nd Dam: Ruby Surprise, by Farma Way
3rd Dam: Santa Rosalia, by Bold Bidder
($250,000 Ylg ’21 KEESEP). O-King, Brad, Andrews, Randy,
Coleman, G. Chris, Cone, Jim, Kirby, Suzanne and Lewis, Lee;
B-Liberty Road Stables (KY); T-Todd W. Fincher; J-Alfredo J.
Juarez, Jr. $176,400. Lifetime Record: 7-4-0-1, $294,700.
2–Love Tank, 121, f, 3, Kitten’s Joy–Perichole (Brz), by Fahim
(GB). ($30,000 Ylg ’21 FTKOCT; $55,000 2yo ’22 KEENOV).
O-Judge Lanier Racing and Drought, James L.; B-Bonne Chance
Farm LLC (KY); T-Nancy Summers. $64,680.
3–Don’t Get Pickled, 121, f, 3, Misremembered–C C’s Pride, by
Successful Appeal. ($9,500 Ylg ’21 ARZNOV). 1ST BLACK TYPE.
O-Stable H. M. A.; B-Harry K Keshian & Cheryl Keshian (CA);
T-Miguel L. Hernandez. $29,400.
Margins: 2 1/4, 6HF, 3/4. Odds: 1.30, 19.90, 37.60.
Also Ran: Una Palabra, Doinitthehardway, Cairo Moon, Foolish Delight.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
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