Today’s Flavor wins second race in a row, an Allowance at Aqueduct, under Manny Franco, Dec. 11, 2022. (Adam Coglianese/NYRA)
NYRA Press Office
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Reddam Racing’s New York-bred Today’s Flavor earned his third victory in-a-row with an open-lengths state-bred optional claiming win on Saturday at Aqueduct Racetrack for trainer George Weaver.
A 5-year-old gelded son of Laoban, Today’s Flavor scored the prominent 3 1/2-length victory in Race 4 under regular pilot Manny Franco, overcoming a bumpy start to duel with Foolish Ghost for the first quarter-mile before taking the lead at the half-mile call of the six-furlong sprint. The effort garnered a career-best 93 Beyer Speed Figure.
“He came out of the race very well,” said Blair Golen, Weaver’s Belmont-based assistant. “He ate up, is acting well and is happy. I was happy because the last two times he ran, he’s never really had a big challenger. Foolish Ghost went with him and challenged him and it didn’t bother him.”
Today’s Flavor’s win came on the heels of a state-bred first-level allowance victory, his first start against winners after a dominant 8 1/2-length maiden score in his first start for Weaver on November 27 after making his first four outings for conditioner Doug O’Neill. Weaver had considered sending Today’s Flavor out for his stakes debut in Sunday’s Say Florida Sandy but opted for the allowance on Saturday.
“George talked to the owners, and they decided to go for the allowance,” said Golen. “You’ve got some tough horses in the stake, and he’s been doing so well, so he just went there. There are some stakes coming up, so we’ll see, and he’s eligible for some open company. There’s a lot of options for him.”
Today’s Flavor, who was bred in the Empire State by Joseph Calvo, has now banked over $166,730 in total purses through a career record of 7-3-3-0.
The Weaver barn will hope to see R.A. Hill Stable’s Sweetest Princess make a successful stakes debut in Saturday’s $100,000 Busanda, a nine-furlong test for sophomore fillies that awards 20-8-6-4-2 qualifying points towards the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks to the top-five finishers, respectively.
The New York-bred daughter of Cairo Prince was last seen graduating at fourth asking in a one-mile state-bred maiden special weight on November 18 at the Big A. Bred by Fred W. Hertrich, III and John D. Fielding, Sweetest Princess has found her best stride on dirt after making her first three outings over the grass.
“She breezed well the last two breezes and we’re very happy with her,” said Golen. “We might as well take a shot. She’s wintered very well, and I don’t mind her at the mile and an eighth.”
Sweetest Princess breezed a half-mile in 48.87 seconds Saturday over the Belmont Park training track in company with Mean Mongol [49.22].
“Her last work was excellent,” said Golen. “She’s a cool filly.”
A $60,000 purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Preferred New York-bred Yearling Sale, Sweetest Princess is the first named foal out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Sweet Cause, a half-sister to graded stakes-placed mare Stormy Sky.
