Flat Out Speed Lives Up to Her Name in Iowa Oaks
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Photo: Coady Photography
Flat Out Speed wins the Iowa Oaks at Prairie Meadows
Poindexter Thoroughbreds' Flat Out Speed stole the show July 5 when she led at all but one point of call to win the $122,200 Iowa Oaks (G3) at Prairie Meadows, where the daughter of Flat Out is now 5-for-5.
Ridden by Alex Canchari, Flat Out Speed broke sharp in the 1 1/16-mile dirt test but bobbled briefly after the break and slipped down to second behind Lagoon Falls. Running a half-length behind Lagoon Falls as the first quarter-mile was clocked in :23.42, Flat Out Speed continued to press the pace, wore down the leader, and finally wrestled control of the field at the five-eighths marker.
From that point on, Flat Out Speed and Canchari were virtually unchallenged. The pair were in control handily coming off the turn and increased their lead to three lengths entering the stretch. Aurelia Garland made a move three wide as the pack barreled to the wire, cut away a significant chunk of Flat Out Speed's lead in midstretch, but did not have enough to catch the frontrunning filly.
Flat Out Speed crossed the wire 1 3/4 lengths clear in 1:42.79. Aurelia Garland held for second followed by Ocean Breeze, Strong Flag, Dynasty of Her Own, and Lagoon Falls to complete the order.
Trained by Lynn Chleborad, Flat Out Speed entered Sunday's Oaks off a win in the June 27 Bob Bryant Stakes at Prairie Meadows. The filly first earned black-type honors at 2, when she won the Prairie Gold Lassie Stakes and Iowa Sorority Stakes in her second and third starts.
Bred in Iowa by H. Allen Poindexter and Wynnstay, Flat Out Speed is out of the Street Sense mare Blue Gallina. The mare has one other registered foal, a 2-year-old Dominus colt named Shotgun Shy. Flat Out Speed has won five of her six starts and earned $250,232—her lone loss coming at Oaklawn Park.
Acre Awarded Victory in Iowa Derby
Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider's Acre was awarded first-place honors in the $100,000 Iowa Derby following an inquiry from stewards into the stretch run.
The 1 1/16-mile Iowa Derby looked to be a cut and dried affair Sunday when Letmeno wired the field to a neck win over Acre. Ridden by Alex Canchari, who won the Iowa Oaks aboard Flat Out Speed one race later, Letmeno set a strong pace from the gate and clicked off fast fractions of :23.36, :46.93, and 1:10.83 through the first six furlongs.
Pressed by Prodigious Bay all along the backside, Letmeno managed to hold sway over the field entering the turn for home before Acre and jockey Martin Garcia made a sweeping four-wide turn to set down for a late drive. Letmeno drifted out at the furlong marker and brushed Acre briefly. The contact was enough to cause Acre to steady and he was unable to collar Letmeno at the wire despite a game effort.
The final time for the race was 1:42.74. The incident in the stretch between the dueling pair came under review of stewards who concluded that Letmeno had interfered with Bill Mott trainee Acre in the stretch and was disqualified to second.
Bred in Kentucky by his owners, Acre is out of the Galileo mare Greenery, the dam of grade 1 winner and sire Lea , who stands at Claiborne Farm. A son of Blame , Acre has won two of his six starts and earned $117,445.
Video: Iowa Derby (BT)