TDN RISING STARS

February 10, 2013 - Gulfstream Park, Race 4, , USD $54,500, 7f, NW1X

Flashy Gray, f, 3, 2010 by Flashy Bull

1st Dam: Pleasure Cat, by Cat's Career
2nd Dam: Hill Pleasure, by What a Pleasure
3rd Dam: Hill River, by

Owner: West Point Thorougbhreds & Tom Keithley
Breeder: Brererton C. Jones (KY)
Trainer: William Mott

West Point Stables and Tom Keithley went all the way to $775,000 for Flashy Gray at last year’s Keeneland November sale--just five days after she romped by 10 1/4 lengths second out at Churchill Downs Nov. 8--and the hefty sum they put up looked like a bargain here. Originally campaigned by Dolphus Morrison and trainer Lon Wiggins, best known as the original connections of Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d’Oro), the $45,000 KEESEP yearling was a narrow runner-up sprinting over the Keeneland Polytrack Oct. 5. She showed an obvious affinity for the site of the GI Kentucky Oaks with her next-out Churchill graduation, and soon became the highlight of the Morrison dispersal in Lexington. Getting Lasix here from new conditioner Bill Mott, who had already sent out a trio of 3-year-old fillies to earn the "TDN Rising Star" distinction this meet, the 1-2 chalk pressed the pace in the two path and asserted on the bend. She built up a clear edge by the time she hit the top of the lane, and required little encouragement to stretch her advantage to 4 3/4 lengths at the wire. Miss Patricia (Indian Charlie) just edged GI Spinaway S. runner-up Sweet Shirley Mae (Broken Vow) for second. "She looked like from her previous form she had some natural speed, which she did," said Mott of the winner. "What I was most pleased about was when [jockey] Joel [Rosario] took her back off the lead horse, she rated very kindly, wasn’t rank, and was in a nice rhythm. The way the end of the race looked it seemed like she should go on. She had such a nice, easy comfortable stride going on the backside. She was a little itchy around the gate and wasn’t running off. Joel had to ask her a little, but every time he did, she gave more and finished when he asked her." When asked about a next spot, Mott replied, "I have to look at the schedule--the stake coming up next is a little too soon." The winner has a 2-year-old half-brother by Brother Derek and a yearling full-brother. Click here for coverage of Flashy Gray’s sale at KEENOV. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $66,100.