Sky Kingdom Gets Job Done in American Flag

Making his first start since last Aug. 31 at Del Mar, Sky Kingdom was ready for his return, taking the $83,850 American Flag Stakes on the 4th of July holiday program Friday at Los Alamitos.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert for Westrock Stables LLC, the 5-year-old Empire Maker horse stalked the pace set by favored Magic Mark for most of the journey before taking over when asked by jockey Victor Espinoza.

Out of the Kingmambo mare Sky Beam, Sky Kingdom completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.32 and paid $13.40, $5.40 and $3.60 as the 5-1 fourth choice in a field reduced to six after the scratch of Fly Lexis Fly.

The American Flag wasn’t the first time Sky Kingdom, who is 5-for-14 with earnings of $367,872, had run well after an extended layoff. He won an optional claimer Jan. 24, 2013 at Santa Anita after being away nearly a year.

“He was very comfortable out there,’’ said Espinoza, who won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness earlier this year aboard the Los Alamitos-based California Chrome. “Most horses like this track, and this horse loves it. He bounced right out of there and I wanted to let him go. The long stretch really helps, because you don’t have to move as soon on the turn.”

Trying to end a losing streak that is nearly 15 months long, Handsome Mike, the 3-1 third choice, made a bid on the outside during the long stretch and wound up three-quarters of a length behind the winner. He paid $4.40 and $3.20. Magic Mark, the 17-10 favorite who was seeking his third consecutive victory and fifth in six starts on dirt, weakened slightly to third, 1 ¼ lengths behind the runner-up. The show price on Magic Mark was $2.80.

Completing the order of finish were Old Time Hockey, Huntsville and 2-1 second choice War Academy, who was eased through the stretch by jockey Martin Garcia, but did walk off the track on his own.