Unwanted As a Foal, Chili Flag Scales Grade I Heights In Just A Game

[Wandering Eyes]

At 21-5, CHILI FLAG (FR) (m, 5, Cityscape {GB}–Flag Day {GB}, by Pivotal {GB}) was the third-elect among the five horses entered by Chad Brown in Friday's GI Just A Game S. at Saratoga, but, given a quiet ride by the in-form Irad Ortiz, Jr., she flew home to give her trainer a seventh victory in the one-mile contest in the last eight runnings. Off without incident from gate six in the field of seven, Chili Flag was content to linger at the tail of the field through the early exchanges, as Evvie Jets (Twirling Candy) showed the way from Whitebeam (GB) (Caravaggio), drawn widest and who was sent forward by Flavien Prat. It was a tightly bunched field and five lengths would have covered them as they hit the turn, but positions were mostly unchanged, as Evvie Jets and Whitebeam continued to eyeball one another, while Chili Flag was going well in hand, just waiting for Ortiz, Jr. to cut the ribbons. Produced wide into the lane, Chili Flag quickened up slightly better than Mission of Joy (Kitten's Joy) to her outside, and they had Whitebeam–who nosed in front at the furlong grounds–to reel in. The Juddmonte runner, last year's GI Diana S. winner, boxed on bravely, but Chili Flag flashed down the center of the course to be home in time. Whitebeam was second ahead of Mission of Joy in third. Sales history: €5,000 RNA Wlg '19 ARQDEC; €140,000 HRA '22 ARQARC. O-Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb & Michael E Kisber; B-Finanza Locale Consulting SRL; T-Chad Brown.

 

CHILI FLAG surges down the stretch to win the Grade 1 Just a Game Stakes with @iradortiz aboard for trainer Chad Brown.

That's 4️⃣ wins for Irad! pic.twitter.com/vEoVYpcMbd

— Belmont Stakes (@BelmontStakes) June 7, 2024

Friday, Saratoga
JUST A GAME S.-GI, $500,000, Saratoga, 6-7, 4yo/up, f/m, 1mT, 1:35.01, fm.
1–CHILI FLAG (FR), 122, m, 5, by Cityscape (GB)
                1st Dam: Flag Day (GB), by Pivotal (GB)
                2nd Dam: Blue Duster, by Danzig
                3rd Dam: Blue Note (Fr), by Habitat
   1ST GRADE I WIN. (€5,000 RNA Wlg '19 ARQDE; €140,000
3yo '22 ARARC). O-Madaket Stables LLC, Michael Dubb and
Michael E. Kisber; B-Finanza Locale Consulting Srl (FR); T-Chad
Brown; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr. $275,000. Lifetime Record: SP-Fr,
19-7-6-1, $1,003,377. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Whitebeam (GB), 124, m, 5, by Caravaggio
                1st Dam: Sleep Walk (GB), by Oasis Dream (GB)
                2nd Dam: Scuffle (GB), by Daylami (Ire)
                3rd Dam: Tantina, by Distant View
O/B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd. (GB); T-Chad C. Brown. $100,000.
3–Mission of Joy, 120, f, 4, by Kitten's Joy
                1st Dam: Smart Mission, by Smart Strike
                2nd Dam: Misty Mission, by Miswaki
                3rd Dam: Hangin On a Star, by Vice Regent
($32,000 Ylg '21 FTKOCT). O-RyZan Sun Racing, LLC and
Madaket Stables LLC; B-Sam-Son Farm (ON); T-H. Graham
Motion. $60,000.
Margins: HF, HD, NK. Odds: 4.20, 3.60, 13.10.
Also Ran: Evvie Jets, Gina Romantica, Coppice (GB), Beaute Cachee (Fr).
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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