Our Flash Drive flashes her talent again and takes the Royal North under Patrick Husbands (Michael Burns)
By Chris Lomon – Woodbine Communications
TORONTO— Our Flash Drive made it three straight graded stakes scores, with her latest triumph coming in the $175,000 Royal North (G2) on Saturday afternoon at Woodbine.
Our Flash Drive, bred and owned by Live Oak, is on a roll.
After taking the Bessarabian (G2) to close out her 2022 campaign and the Whimsical (G3) to open up her 5-year-old season, the bay mare turned her talents to the turf and came away with another impressive triumph in the 6 ½ furlong race for fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up, besting a game Sweet Enough (GB) and a hard-charging Millie Girl.
Forest Drift fired out of the outside gate and crossed over to take the early lead as Patrick Husbands, aboard Our Flash Drive, settled into second spot, followed by Imagery and Sweet Enough (GB) through an opening panel reached in :22.92.
Still freewheeling on the front, 34-1 Forest Drift led the field through a half-mile in :45.24 as Husbands continued to keep close tabs on the front-running longshot.
Turning for home, Husbands roused Our Flash Drive and the Mark Casse trainee responded, cutting into the lead of a determined Forest Drift before striking front and going on to notch 1 ¼-length score in a time of 1:13.88 over firm ground. Sweet Enough (GB) finished second, a neck ahead of Millie Girl, who was a neck in front of Forest Drift.
Adaay Asia (GB), Baby No Worries, Imagery, Ambassador Luna, Owen’s Tour Guide and Demodog rounded out the order of finish.
“When Johnny’s [jockey, Velazquez] horse [morning line 3-1 second choice Bay Storm] scratched, I said, ‘You know what? Get in the clear and keep your eyes on the horse on the lead,’” said Husbands. “And that horse on the lead, she was doing it so easy. Her ears were pricked, and she was doing it so easy. I said, ‘I’ve got to go after this filly now.’ She [Our Flash Drive] is a class horse and when you go into these races, you have to ride them with confidence.”
It was the seventh win, to go along with three seconds and a third from 16 starts for the Florida-bred daughter of Ghostzapper.
Our Flash Drive paid $4.30 for the win.
