Flagstaff asserts himself again, winning Santa Anita's San Carlos

Flagstaff continued his ascent among California’s sprinting ranks Saturday by ranging up four-wide through the turn and going on to win Santa Anita Park’s Grade 2, $200,000 San Carlos Stakes.

The 6-year-old son of Speightstown, trained by John Sadler for the partnership of Lane’s End Racing and Hronis Racing, completed seven furlongs in 1:22.64 under a confident ride by Hall of Famer Victor Espinoza. 

After sitting patiently behind a quarter mile in 22.27 set by stablemate St. Joe Bay, Flagstaff began to make his move. The half mile flashed up in 45.04, and Flagstaff went on to put a head in front off the turn. With a steady drive down the stretch, he was too far out in front for the rallying Roadster to catch. 

"I wanted to wait turning for home a little longer, because when he takes the lead, normally he waits for horses," Espinoza said. "I didn't want to take the lead too soon, but the other horses couldn't keep up with me so I just had to let him run."

Flagstaff crossed the wire 1 1/4-lengths in front of Roadster with another length back to McKale in third. Law Abiding Citizen filled out the superfecta.

"He waits a little bit when he gets in front, so Victor was trying to sit behind as long as he could," Sadler said. "Victor said, 'I got to the front a little bit quick.' But he was loaded today -- plenty of horse and looks really strong."

Flagstaff, the former $475,000 yearling, remains lightly raced, improving to 5-3-2 in 10 starts. It was until last fall’s Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G1) that he tried stakes company, finishing third there before winning Del Mar’s Damascus. Flagstaff ran second most recently in the Jan. 25 Palos Verdes (G2) heading into Saturday.

"He's just a wonderful horse to train," Sadler said. "He's a willing worker. He's nice to ride, and he runs well every time. I'd like to have a hundred like him."

Away as the even-money favorite, Flagstaff returned $4 to win.