Cal-Bred Millionaires’ Row Cont’d. while the gelding was in his prime, and first sent him to Hong Kong for the group I, $1,548,000 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint on Dec. 13. California Flag became a millionaire when he finished a good fifth, then went to Dubai for the group III, $1,000,000 Al Quoz Sprint on Mar. 27, 2010. He finished third, proving he could compete against the best in the world, then returned home to California to focus on a defense of his Breeders’ Cup title. California Flag enjoyed a delightful homecoming in the $102,175 Green Flash Handicap on Aug. 18, 2010. He led a Cal-bred superfecta in that race, winning by a nose over the dead heating Quick Enough and My Summer Slew, while Cost of Freedom finished fourth. Jockey Mike Smith was aboard, replacing Talamo, who had recently broken his wrist. However, the pair were reunited for California Flag’s next start which would be on the road. With Churchill Downs slated to host the 2010 Breeders’ Cup, California Flag was shipped to Lexington, Kentucky, to prep in Keeneland’s grade III, $100,000 Woodford Stakes. He was sent off as the 8-5 choice against a field of 10 rivals, but faded badly to trail the field. He improved only slightly to be eighth in his Turf Sprint defense to end the year. California Flag had another abbreviated season in 2011, starting four times with one win. He kicked off the year on July 3, with an eighth place finish in the $81,898 Robert K. Kerlan Memorial Handicap at Hollywood Park. Then he finished fifth, beaten 2 1/4 lengths, in the $104,375 Pirate’s Bounty Handicap on Del Mar’s main allweather Polytrack surface. California Flag got back into the winning groove with his third victory in the Morvich. Now piloted by jockey Pat Valenzuela, California Flag relished his return to the hill and
won by a half-length over Excessive Passion and Ain’t No Other in 1:11.91. His performance earned him a fourth shot at the Breeders’ Cup, also held at Churchill Downs, but he finished 12th of 14. In 2012, California Flag got an early start to the season, winning the grade III, $100,000 San Simeon Handicap down the hill at Santa Anita. Talamo was back aboard for the 2 1/4-length score over Sayif (Ire), while fellow Calbred Compari finished third. Setbacks kept him out of the Hollywood Park spring and Del Mar summer meets, but the now nearly-white gray is training for his fifth run at the Breeders’ Cup. “I’m going to retire him following that race, because I want to retire him as a champion,” Card said. “He’s working lights out right now, and still loves it out there. He’s a happy horse, he feels good, and he looks good.” California Flag, whose record currently stands at 11 wins and two thirds in 26 starts with $1,288,825 in earnings, will be retired to Hi Card Ranch. “He always had a personality here at the farm,” Card said. “He loves to buck and run and kick, loves his carrots, and I will just let him be a horse.” Card appreciates many of California Flag’s qualities, but there is something particularly special about the way he carries on her husband’s legacy. “I think what made me happiest was that he brought so many accolades to Keith that were so well deserved,” Card said. Keith Card served as the President of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association (CTBA) in 2005, and the Cards were named the 2009 TOBA (Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association) State Breeeder of the Year for California. Card is now honored with a race in his name—the $250,000 Keith E. Card California Cup Juvenile Fillies Stakes. Whether or not California Flag is able to replicate his Breeders’ Cup success in his final try, his longevity makes for a remarkable story.
©Benoit photos
F E A T U R E
In his next to last start of the year, Cal-bred California Flag won the $909,000 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint in the Hi Card Ranch silks of his breeders, the late Keith Card and his wife Barbara, at Santa Anita Park on November 7, 2009.
46 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • NOVEMBER 2012
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