Flashy Ways Upsets Surfer Girl Stakes

The inaugural running of the $100,000 Surfer Girl Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at one mile on turf produced an upset, as Riley Racing Stables’ Flashy Ways won going away by 2 ½ lengths under Joe Talamo in 1:34.45.

Trained by Richard Baltas, the Kentucky-bred by Catienus sat a close fifth in the field of seven early and was a length off the lead going to the quarter pole. A brisk pace of 22.95, 46.47, 1:10.47 and 1:22.59 was carved out by 3-1 second choice Upbeat Mood and David Flores, Bares Tripper and Martin Pedroza, and Truly Marie, with Martin Garcia up.

“We just had a perfect trip,” said Talamo. “Three of them went out there in a speed duel and we just sat behind. Then turning for home I turned her out and had a lot of horse. She’s bred up and down for the turf on her dam’s side.”

Talamo had also ridden Flashy Ways in her maiden $50,000 claiming score going 5 ½ furlongs on Polytrack Aug. 16 at Del Mar.

“Richard has done a great job with her. She was fit and ready to go today. Again, I just had a perfect trip with a good horse underneath.”

Flashy Ways paid $16.40, $6.20 and $5.20.

Undefeated in two starts, Flashy Ways picked up $60,000 for her Surfer Girl win, extending her bankroll to $81,600.

Runnerup Wishing Gate, who was the 2-1 post time favorite, settled next to last early, split horses in midstretch and finished strongly under Garrett Gomez but did not threaten the winner while finishing 1 ½ lengths in front of third-place finisher Somethingabouther and Victor Espinoza.

Wishing Gate paid $4.20 and $2.80, while Somethingabouther returned $4.80 to show.