Chaos Theory Goes From Claim to Green Flash Winner
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Chaos Theory rallies to win the Green Flash Handicap at Del Mar
Owner Hronis Racing and trainer John Sadler have developed a niche for buying established racehorses privately or at public sales before turning them into graded stakes winners. Eventual grade 1 winners Higher Power, Hard Aces, Combatant, and Gift Box are four such examples.
Claims can now be added to their graded stakes-winning modus operandi.
On Aug. 22 at Del Mar, Chaos Theory won the $101,000 Green Flash Handicap (G3T) for these connections, one race after they nabbed him for $62,500 out of an allowance optional claiming turf race he won at Churchill Downs June 14. He took the Green Flash by a length over Baja Sur.
A powerful finisher, Chaos Theory always was well positioned in Saturday's five-furlong turf event and stalked the early pace in fourth, 3 1/2 lengths behind pacesetter Mikes Tiznow, who sped to the lead with an opening quarter in :22.65. Biding his time, jockey Umberto Rispoli didn't tip his mount out from the two path until the stretch, and Chaos Theory did the rest down the center of the course.
He pulled within two lengths of Mikes Tiznow after four furlongs in 45.02, and as the leader weakened over the final eighth of a mile, Chaos Theory scampered clear. The winner carried 120 pounds, three less than highweight Sparky Ville, who finished sixth.
"It was beautiful," said Rispoli, who entered Saturday as the meet's leading rider. "He surprised me because he broke so sharply. I figured we’d be a little farther back, but it put us in a great spot just behind the speed. At this distance you can’t get too far back. I had a lot of horse turning for home. I thought we’d get there.”
Baja Sur secured second in a three-way photo, just ahead of pace-chasing Torosay and a retreating Mikes Tiznow.
The winner, a 5-year-old gelding by Curlin , finished in :56.22 on a firm turf course. Due to inconsistencies with the Equibase Gmax GPS timing system at Del Mar, the final time and splits were hand-timed, a practice in place for all turf races over the remainder of the summer meet.
The winner paid $5.60 as the favorite.
Though Chaos Theory won his first graded stakes race Saturday, the Green Flash did not represent a significant uptick in form. He captured the Colonel Power Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in February 2019 for previous owners Marc Detampel and Sunshine State Racing and former trainer Brendan Walsh.
"This horse is kind of a specialist—five, 5 1/2 furlongs—so I thought he would be a great fit in California; that's why we brought him out," Sadler said of Chaos Theory. "He's a good horse. We were pleased with his race today."
Sadler also won the 2008 Green Flash with Get Funky for owner Keith Abrahams.
Chaos Theory is the lone stakes winner for the Tale of the Cat mare Chaotic Cat. Originally a $260,000 weanling at the 2015 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, he was purchased by JBL Thoroughbreds as a 3-year-old at the same 2018 auction for $42,000 from the consignment of James Keogh.