Boss Sully hangs on going down the hill, Benoit Photo
Santa Anita Park Press
ARCADIA, CA —Boss Sully tracked pacesetter Flyover in second and wore that rival down in the stretch to win the $100,000 California Flag Handicap presented by City National Bank for horses bred or sired in California going about 6 ½ furlongs on the hillside turf course Saturday at Santa Anita Park.
Boss Sully, with new rider Mike Smith in the irons, prevailed by one length over Flyover (7-2) as the 4-1 second choice in a field of seven. Lonesome Stew, the 8-5 favorite ridden by Umberto Rispoli, finished another half-length back in third after rallying from last.
Flyover, ridden by Emisael Jaramillo, set moderate fractions of 22.42 and 44.42 seconds for the opening half mile before Boss Sully edged past him and prevailed in a time of 1:12.83.
A 6-year-old gelding by Street Boss, Boss Sully is trained by Brian Koriner. For Koriner, this win was extra special as he trained the races namesake, California Flag, to a victory In 2009 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita.
“Brian said listen, ‘He’s okay chasing a horse and when he crosses that dirt, he will run at ‘em’, and that’s exactly what he did,” Smith said. “He actually won well within himself today. That’s how good he is doing.”
Smith substituted in the irons for Joel Rosario, who on Saturday was riding at Keeneland.
Boss Sully’s only previous stakes win came in May at Santa Anita when scoring in the Siren Lure going six furlongs on the flat turf course.
“That was pretty exciting, it was so much fun,” Koriner said. “Mike worked him over the weekend and he worked incredible. Mike put a perfect ride on him, sat behind a horse and he went after him. It was beautiful.”
Boss Sully improved to 19: 7-2-2 with more than $530,000 in earnings. He is owned by Rusty J Brown, Alan P. Klein, and Philip Lebherz. That trio also bred Boss Sully through its PT Syndicate.
Boss Sully paid $10.00, $6.20 and $3.40. Flyover, trained by John Sadler, returned $6.00 and $3.20. Lonesome Stew, ridden by Umberto Rispoli for trainer Mark Glatt, paid $2.20.
On Sunday, Santa Anita will host a 10-race program starting at 1 p.m. that will include a two-day carryover in the $2 Pick 6 of $99,295. Full race entries and other information can be found at santaanita.com.
CALIFORNIA FLAG HANDICAP QUOTES
JOCKEY QUOTES
MIKE SMITH, BOSS SULLY, WINNER: “Brian said listen, ‘He’s okay chasing a horse and when he crosses that dirt, he will run at ‘em’, and that’s exactly what he did. He actually won well within himself today. That’s how good he is doing.”
TRAINER QUOTES
BRIAN KORINER, BOSS SULLY, WINNER: “That was pretty exciting, it was so much fun. Mike worked him over the weekend and he worked incredible. Mike put a perfect ride on him, sat behind a horse and he went after him. It was beautiful.”
NOTES: The winning owners-breeders are Rusty J Brown, Alan P. Klein, and Philip Lebherz.
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