Our Flash Drive Romps to Redemption in Bessarabian
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Photo: Michael Burns
Our Flash Drive wins the Bessarabian Stakes at Woodbine
As the sun set in the early evening Nov. 12, it was Our Flash Drive who returned to Woodbine with a cracking finish in the CA$176,550 (US$133,172) Bessarabian Stakes (G2) to nab her first victory in grade 2 company.
Last out the 4-year-old daughter of Ghostzapper missed the mark when second to Kate's Kingdom in the Oct. 22 Ontario Matron Stakes (G3) around the Toronto oval.
"I was getting the perfect trip down the backside (today), trying to find out where (Jose) Ortiz (aboard Artie's Princess) is," said jockey Patrick Husbands. "I just tipped out at the top of the lane. Actually, she ran a winning race (in the Ontario Matron). That horse (Kate's Kingdom) just followed me and caught me."
The Mark Casse trainee could not be turned away Saturday as she broke from the gate to sit fifth behind Sweet Enough , Hazelbrook , Loyalty , and Lorena , in :23.25 and :45.44 over the fast all weather track.
Hazelbrook took the lead around the final turn and was still challenged by Loyalty and Sweet Enough as the nine-horse field powered into the stretch of the seven-furlong event.
Under encouragement from Husbands, Our Flash Drive opened up and came from the outside to take a strong lead in 1:08.64. She increased her advantage to a 5 3/4-length margin at the wire, crossing in a final time of 1:20.76.
Our Flash Drive romps home in the Bessabrabian Stakes
Coming off a score in the Oct. 15 Ontario Fashion Stakes (G3), Hazelbrook finished second, and multiple stakes winner Loyalty was back for third.
Our Flash Drive, a Live Oak Plantation homebred, paid $5.20 on a $2 win wager as the 8-5 choice. She improved her record to 5-3-1 from 14 starts and her earnings increased to $456,960.
In only her fourth start, the filly became a graded stakes winner in the 2021 Selene Stakes (G3). She ran back at Woodbine a little over a month later to win the Ontario Colleen Stakes (G3). Since those victories, her only other win was at Saratoga Race Course in the Aug. 7 Fasig-Tipton De La Rose Stakes. She also placed in the March 27 Pleasant Acres Stallions Distaff Turf Stakes, May 14 Beaugay Stakes (G2T), and the July 2 Nassau Stakes (G2T) in 2022.
Our Flash Drive was bred in Florida out of the Dynaformer mare Dynamotor, who has two winners from three foals to race. The dam also has a 2-year-old full sister to the filly named Bell Witch, as well as a yearling Omaha Beach filly. She was barren for 2022 and was bred back to Mendelssohn for 2023.