Mendelssohn's Saturday Flirt Strikes at First Asking on Keeneland's Closing Day
Updated: April 26, 2024 at 2:08 pm
1st-Keeneland, $79,675, Msw, 4-26, 2yo, f, 5 1/2fT, 1:03.35, fm, 1 1/4 lengths.
SATURDAY FLIRT (f, 2, Mendelssohn–Dragic {MSP, $104,350}, by Broken Vow) raced near the rear of the field on this unveiling, biding her time in cover as the frontrunners put up :21.89 and :45.18 early splits. Swung seven wide to the grandstand side as they rolled into the stretch, Saturday Flirt closed relentlessly but managed to overhaul 28-1 longshot Bois Blanc (First Samurai) in the late stages to win by 1 1/4 lengths.
Out of a half-sister to the late champion MGISW Echo Zulu (Gun Runner) and to GISW Echo Town (Speightstown), the victress is the second winner to the races for Dragic. That mare, who also claims GSW J Boys Echo (Mineshaft) as a half-brother as well as GSP Unbridled Outlaw (Unbridled's Song), delivered a 2024 Gun Runner colt this spring. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $45,880. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O/B/T-Wesley A. Ward (KY).
(7) Saturday Flirt storms down the center of the track to win the closing day opener, adding another victory for current leading jockey @iradortiz and trainer Wesley Ward. pic.twitter.com/Iz8ENNAOEe
— Keeneland Racing (@keenelandracing) April 26, 2024