Capture the Flag Goes for Two Straight in Pan American

Coming off a sharp gate-to-wire conquest in the Mac Diarmida Stakes (G2T), Capture the Flag  now looks to win again at Gulfstream Park in the March 29 Pan American Stakes (G3T). 

Winning the 1 1/2-mile Pan American would establish a first for the son of Quality Road  . A victory Saturday would be his first back-to-back wins. That they would come in graded races would make it sweeter for his connections. Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, Capture the Flag was bred by Joseph Allen, who co-owns him with Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, and Jonathan Poulin. 

"We were hoping for (a front-running) effort like that last time and felt like we could put his natural speed to use," Pletcher said. "He got into a good, strong gallop and was able to keep carrying it on. We've been very pleased with him, and he's trained well since then, so we're hoping for another good effort."

But to capture the flag Saturday, he will have to outclass a pair of seasoned millionaires who have fared well against graded company.

Far Bridge  is making his season debut looking to forget about the final chapter of his 2024 campaign. Breaking well in the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) and stalking the lead over the opening mile, he faded down the stretch for a disappointing ninth. Used to being in the money for trainer Christophe Clement and owner LSU Stables, expect an effort more in line with his Sword Dancer (G1T) and Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1T) stakes triumphs that preceded the Breeders' Cup. 

The WinStar Farm-bred Tawny Port  will make his ninth consecutive start in a graded race and 20th appearance in his 24 lifetime starts. Owned by Peachtree Stable, Tawny Port is also making his 2025 debut for Clement. The Pan American is not new to him, as he finished third in last year's edition.

Cash Equity  has been a graded or group bridesmaid, if you will, failing to cross the wire first in 14 attempts.

Foreign Flavor to the Orchid Stakes

Two races earlier is the Orchid Stakes (G3T) also going 1 1/2 miles. That field of seven fillies and mares 4 and up features four foreign-born runners. 

The most recognizable is the Clement-trained La Mehana . 

She is no stranger to Gulfstream having raced her last three times there in addition to last year's Orchid, in which she finished third. Owned by LSU Stables, La Mehana ended last year victorious in the Via Borghese Stakes and then posted back-to-back thirds in the La Prevoyante Stakes (G3T) and The Very One Stakes (G3T). The daughter of Al Wukair  has been nothing if not consistent since coming to the United States in 2024. In eight starts stateside, she has finished on the board six times with two wins and four thirds.

Riding high coming into the Orchid is the winner of The Very One, Beach Bomb . Bred in South Africa by Drakenstein Stud and owned by Cayton Park Stud, the Graham Motion pupil bounced back nicely after crossing the wire eighth in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T).

"I didn't necessarily expect her to be on the lead, but I think that style is suited down here," Motion said of Beach Bomb's The Very One effort. "She's a nice filly. It's not really a surprise to see her run that well. She's been running in tough spots and we kind of regrouped and gave her a little time, and she ran great."

Another invader, Sacaya , is making her U.S. debut for Clement following 13 starts in her native France.