Phlash Phelps Team Back in Maryland Million

When Rodney Jenkins in 2012 purchased a gangly yearling by Great Notion  , the seller gave the trainer a piece of advice.    

"He said you bought a nice horse, but you're going to need to be patient and take your time with him, because he's going to be a late bloomer." Jenkins recalled.

That prediction couldn't have been more on the money. On Oct. 22 at Laurel Park that late bloomer, now known as Phlash Phelps, will be shooting for his second straight victory in the Maryland Million Turf when he goes to post as the expected betting favorite in a field of 11 going a mile.

True to the seller's predictions, Hillwood Stable's Phlash Phelps was slow to mature and develop. He didn't make his first start until the spring of 2014, when he made his debut at 3 sprinting on the main track at Pimlico Race Course. After four maiden special weight starts that season, owner Ellen Charles agreed the gelding needed more time to get his act together. He was given nearly six months off then was brought back in April of his 4-year-old season.

Waiting that amount of time for a horse to come around is something a lot of owners and trainers are reluctant to do, but when Phlash Phelps came out for his 4-year-old season, he had it all together. He rallied from seventh to leave the maiden ranks in eye-catching fashion in an April 23 turf sprint at Pimlico, then romped home by eight lengths when stretched out in his next start.

Convinced they had a runner of some quality, Jenkins and Charles waited three months to run Phlash Phelps in the Find Stakes, and he overcame some traffic problems into the stretch to split rivals late and get up for his third straight win.

Given time off again, Phlash Phelps was then entered in last year's Million Turf in October, when he successfully closed out a perfect four-for-four season by emerging from a long stretch duel with a hard-earned three-quarter length win over Roadhog.

Phlash Phelps has made only three starts this season leading up to this year's Million Turf, but Jenkins noted the light schedule is by design and not because of any physical problems.

"(Phlash Phelps) doesn't have a pimple on him," the horseman said from Laurel Thursday. "We haven't run him more than we have simply because there are limited stakes opportunities for him. And with five wins, condition races are even harder to find. Fortunately I've got an owner who's the best. She understands the business and has no problem with not running a horse instead of running one where they don't belong."

There appears to be an overabundance of speed in the field for the Million Turf and drawing the 10 post in the expected 11-horse field was not the place Jenkins was looking to be when they spring the latch Saturday.

"I would have been happier to have drawn inside somewhere, but it is what it is," Jenkins admitted. "I know Phlash Phelps has the tactical speed to get a good stalking position just off the leader. The only problem with that is it seems like every time we try to come from off the pace, we run into traffic problems. That's what happened last time. My other horse in the race, Top of Mind, made a sweeping move outside and went by outside Phlash Phelps just as he was getting in gear and he kinda got outrun to the spot and squeezed a bit.    

"We'll just have to hope to get our spot and get clear racing room when it counts. He is good right now, he's on his game, and I wouldn't trade places with anybody Saturday."

As an owner and breeder, Charles has raced Thoroughbreds on her own since 2004, but she's been involved in racing most of her life. Her mother owned horses and her father was a steward. Charles has used Jenkins as her trainer for 10 years and currently has approximately 20 horses under his care

Straight-talking Charles is encouraged by Maryland's recent resurgence and points out the bill that helped fuel the comeback of racing in the state differs from other states with money from added gaming.

"We're not propped up by gaming like a lot of other states. Racing in Maryland is now a viable, going concern that has a promising future," Charles said. "After some tough periods for racing in the state, it's an exciting time to race in Maryland."

Charles is proud of the retirement and aftercare programs for Thoroughbreds. Such programs are growing around the country and the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association is active promoting these types of programs in the state and nationwide.    

The owner and breeder has eight mares she boards and is looking forward to breeding some of those to Bandbox  , a graded stakes-winning son of Tapit   she owned during his racing career. She also has weanling and yearling half brothers to Phlash Phelps.    

"Hopefully those two will carry on the family tradition," Charles said. "That would be a lot of fun."