Capture the Flag (Quality Road–War Flag, by War Front) entering with some positive workout notes and backed at 5-2 for the notoriously patient Shug McGaughey barn, turned in an auspicious debut in Saratoga's Saturday opener that seemed like just the tip of the iceberg. Last away in the field of five, the hulking bay quickly narrowed the gap and mounted a three-deep move into the turn. Going much easier than the two foes to his inside approaching the stretch, he was confidently ridden out by Luis Saez, bounding home by three lengths in 1:06.17 en route to being named a 'TDN Rising Star'. Tatum (Cross Traffic), who had been beaten a nose on debut at Parx, was second best.
Capture the Flag was bred by Mr. Joseph Allen LLC and appears to be have been bought into privately after that by Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg Limited and Jonathan Poulin. He is the second foal out of Allen and McGaughey's 2017 GI Flower Bowl S. winner War Flag–the first, Personal Best (Tapit), was most recently third going nine furlongs on the grass at Belmont in maiden special weight company last month. War Flag is a full to Hong Kong G1SW Lines of Battle. A half to the dam produced the same connections' 2020 Flower Bowl heroine Civil Union. Capture the Flag's third dam is GISW Andover Way (His Majesty), who in turn produced MGSW and influential sire Dynaformer (Roberto). Next in the pipeline for War Flag is a yearling Uncle Mo filly and a foal colt by Into Mischief. She was bred back to Gun Runner.
McGaughey's recent 'Rising Star'-worthy debut winners at the Spa include champion Honor Code (A.P. Indy) and MGISW Code of Honor (Noble Mission {GB}).
1st-Saratoga, $101,850, Msw, 7-30, 2yo, 5 1/2f, 1:06.17, ft, 3 lengths.
CAPTURE THE FLAG, c, 2, Quality Road
1st Dam: War Flag (GISW-USA, GSW-Fr, $474,660),
by War Front
2nd Dam: Black Speck, by Arch
3rd Dam: Andover Way, by His Majesty
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $57,750. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG. Free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-Allen Stable, Inc., Magnier, Mrs. John, Tabor, Michael B., Smith, Derrick, Westerberg Limited and Poulin, Jonathan; B-Mr. Joseph Allen LLC (KY); T-Claude R. McGaughey III.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
