Civil Union earns Breeders' Cup berth with Flower Bowl win

It was decided by only a head, but Civil Union came out on top to win the $250,000 Flower Bowl (G1) on Saturday at Belmont Park, locking up a spot next month in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

The 5-year-old winner got stuck in the back of the field out of the post, but jockey Joel Rosario stayed inside and found his way through to gain the lead. She held off My Sister Nat, who came on strong in the final furlong to make it a photo finish. The win over 1 1/4 miles on the turf at Belmont Park was the fourth straight victory for Civil Union and the third in a stakes race.

“It’s always fun when you see them go up the ladder like that,” Shug McGaughey, Civil Union’s trainer, said after the race. “When I got her I didn’t really know what to expect.”

The daughter of War Front out of the Unbridled’s Song mare Photograph, she has been ridden by Rosario her last two times out. After Saturday’s race, Rosario said she has been extremely responsive late in races.

“She’s push-button,” he said. “When you want her to go, she’s just there for you. It makes it easy for us.”

My Sister Nat, one of three Chad Brown-trained entrants to the Flower Bowl finished second. Nay Lady Nay, another Brown-trainee, was third.

Splits for the race were 24.62, 48.93, 1:14.36 and 1:38.27. Civil Union’s winning time, on turf listed as firm, was 2:01.28.

As for the Breeders’ Cup on Nov. 7 at Keeneland, McGaughey was noncommittal about plans for the Allen Stables home-bred.

“We’ll just have to wait and see how she comes out of it,” he said. “This was a pretty hard race on her today, but races have been spaced. If she bounces out of it, I’ll talk to Mr. Allen, and we’ll figure out what we want to do.”

Civil Union returned $8.10 for the win.