Flor de la Luna Keeps 'Moving Forward' on Turf

There have not been a great deal of open maiden special weights on the grass for sophomores of 2015, but those that have happened have produced some promising horses. One of the more impressive was that of Club House Racing’s Bret Calhoun-trained Flor de la Luna on Nov. 28 at the beginning of the meet. Racing wide throughout in the 10-horse field, she closed gamely and out-battled a talented La Luna Rouge from the Mike Stidham barn by a head.

A daughter of Malibu Moon out of the graded stakes-placed Bernstein mare Instrumentalist, Flor de la Luna took four races to break her maiden and did not graduate until her first shot on the grass. She has been part of a deep sophomore filly harem in the Calhoun barn that also includes stakes fillies Zooming, Perfect Fit and Promise Me Silver.

“She beat a very good filly that day of Stidham’s and I really believe she’ll keep moving forward on the turf,” Calhoun said. “We’ll keep her on the grass for now. I'm not saying we won’t try the dirt again – but she’s a little immature, so maybe down the road.

“I’ve been kind of lucky with these fillies,” Calhoun continued. “The one who may have thrown a monkey wrench into my plans is Promise Me Silver. I had sent Zooming down here (for the Listed $125,000 Silverbulletday Stakes), Perfect Fit to Oaklawn (for the Listed $100,000 Martha Washington Stakes) and her to Oaklawn for the Dixie Belle – but she really relaxed so well winning the Letellier (Memorial on Dec. 20), she might go long.”

According to Calhoun, he is looking for an allowance for Flor de la Luna’s next race. The Kentucky-bred has put in three serious works since her win, including a five-furlong move in 1:02 (24th of 64) on Dec. 29. 

Source: Fair Grounds Barn Notes