Flora Dora Finds Just Enough in Busanda

A drop in class was the winning formula for Coffeepot Stables' Flora Dora Jan. 31 in the $100,000 Busanda Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Flora Dora was as many as 10 lengths back in the stretch, but under Jose Ortiz, the 3-year-old First Dude   filly found just enough to track down Scatoosh on the outside and win by a length. Early leader Lost Raven held for third, 2 1/4 lengths back.

Lost Raven set fractions of :24.55, :49.32, and 1:14.03 through six furlongs before Scatoosh took over on the turn. Flora Dora finished the mile and 70 yards in 1:45.40.

"She listened really well," Ortiz said. "When I was getting a position in the first turn, she helped me out and she relaxed really well. When I asked her to go at the three-eighths pole, I had to whip her a few times. She's a little lazy. Once I got her going, she was there for me."

It was Flora Dora's second stakes win. She won the Florida Sire My Dear Girl Stakes to break her maiden for trainer Marialice Coffey. After that, she finished second in the Tempted (gr. III) and fourth in the Demoiselle (gr. II) later in the year.

"She has always been a very patient filly and she closes very well," said Coffey, who indicated the filly could ultimately find her way to the Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I). "I feel that she also has tactical speed and that she can put herself in the mix, and today she did."

Bred in Florida by Dizney Double Diamond, out of the Dixieland Band mare Aidan, Flora Dora now has a 2-1-0 record from five starts with $415,332 in earnings.