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Flashpoint produces fireworks in Jersey Shore

Flashpoint advertised his credentials for the August 27 King's Bishop at Saratoga (Ryan Denver/EquiPhoto) Reverting to a sprint for the first time since his flop in the Preakness S. (G1), Peachtree Stable's FLASHPOINT (Pomeroy) served notice to his fellow sophomore speedsters with a demolition job in Sunday's $143,000 Jersey Shore S. (G3) at Monmouth. The 4-5 favorite overpowered the scratch-decimated field turning for home and drew off with authority, his brilliance undimmed by the driving rain or the muddy track. Flashpoint crossed the wire seven lengths in front, and reeled off six furlongs in a snappy 1:08 3/5, to remain unbeaten around one turn. With the withdrawals of the well-regarded Cal Nation (Distorted Humor), Royal Currier (Red Bullet) and Parent's Honor (Elusive Quality), only three rivals were left to face Flashpoint. Zero Rate Policy (Trippi) hustled to the front in the opening strides, but Flashpoint argued the pace with him through a first quarter in :21 3/5. Chipshot (Peace Rules), who had been chasing in third on the outside, edged closer as they approached the half-mile mark. By that point, Flashpoint had begun to assert himself with regular rider Cornelio Velasquez. The Wesley Ward trainee put his head in front of Chipshot through a split of :44 2/5, and spurted away once straightening into the stretch.

Flashpoint was 1 1/2 lengths on top when reaching five furlongs in :56 2/5 and extended his margin inside the final furlong, paying $3.60 and $2.60 to his supporters. There was no show wagering. C J Russell (El Corredor), last of the quartet for most of the way, closed to finish a clear second by 1 1/2 lengths. Chipshot garnered third by a head over Zero Rate Policy.

"He broke sharp and was moving comfortably," Velasquez said of Flashpoint. "He had a ton of horse the whole way and was loaded with run when I called on him.  He loves these distances, six and seven furlongs. He's great at them." 

Flashpoint's resume now reads 5-3-0-0, $255,200. Initially trained by Rick Dutrow, the strongly-built gray dominated by 6 1/4 lengths in his six-furlong debut at Aqueduct on January 15. That impressive performance earned him a ticket to Gulfstream Park, where he crushed the February 26 Hutcheson S. (G2) by 7 1/4 lengths. The lure of the Kentucky Derby (G1) prompted his connections to stretch him out to two turns for the April 3 Florida Derby (G1), but he failed to adapt and checked in fourth. Following his transfer to Ward, Flashpoint tried again in the May 21 Preakness, only to fare worse and retreat to last of 14 after setting a pressured pace. Then it was clear that sprinting was his game.

Bred by Silverleaf Farms in Florida, Flashpoint brought $115,000 as a yearling at Keeneland January and later sold for $100,000 at the same venue that September. He was produced by multiple stakes heroine Two Punch Lil (Two Punch), whose other foals include Japanese stakes scorer Uncle Lee Sam (Exploit), Japanese stakes-placed Yuwa Hurricane (Mt. Livermore) and an unnamed yearling filly by Congaree. He comes from the same female line as Japanese Grade 2 hero Eishin Cameron (With Approval), multiple Grade 3 winner Feline Story (Tale of the Cat) and Grade 2 runner-up Copelan Too (Copelan). His fourth dam Toast of the Town (Native Dancer) is a full sister to outstanding sire Raise a Native.

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