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Flashy move leads the Bull to Foster score
Magna Graduate was uncharacteristically next to last in the early going, but nonetheless showed solid determination while just missing on the line. The 7-2 third choice paid $4.20 and $3.60 for the place while completing the $63.20 exacta. "When I came off the turn, I thought I had dead aim on (Flashy Bull)," Garrett Gomez said of his view aboard Magna Graduate. "But then (Flashy Bull) kind of kicked on a little more on the inside. My horse had to grind it out. We kind of took him out of his element today, a little further off the pace than usual, to get him to settle." Diamond Stripes saved ground while well back early, came wide into the stretch inside of the runner-up and did well to gain third, 7 3/4 lengths clear of his nearest pursuer. The previously unbeaten gelding gave back $3.80 and rounded out the $227.40 trifecta as the 3-1 second choice, just a half-length shy of the place. "He tried very hard," said Edgar Prado, who piloted Diamond Stripes. "He was right next to the winner all the way, but I think he is still a little immature. He's still a little green and it took him a couple more jumps to get it going toward the end. I don't think they are going to beat him in the future." Jonesboro (Sefapiano) trailed to the top of the lane but finished with good energy to claim the fourth spot at 63-1, capping the $3,579.80 superfecta (7-3-1-8) in the process. Wanderin Boy (Seeking the Gold), who held the briefest of leads turning for home, was next and followed by 8-5 favorite Master Command (A.P. Indy), Wiggins (Cartwright) and Mr. Umphrey. "I lost all chance going into the first turn," John Velazquez said of his trip aboard Master Command. "I had to check hard and that was it. It's really disappointing because I thought he would run big." Flashy Bull has captured his last four races in succession, taking the William Donald Schaefer H. (G3) most recently. The four-year-old owns placings in the Fountain of Youth S. (G2), Remsen S. (G2) and Ohio Derby (G2), as part of his 18-5-5-3, $829,313 career line. Bred in Kentucky by Jerry and Liz Squyres, the winner attracted a bid of $205,000 at the 2005 OBS February Two-Year-Olds in Training sale. He was produced by the winning Iridescence (Mt. Livermore), making him a half-brother to Count Fleet S. hero Pink Viper (Smoke Glacken). Iridescence has also produced an unraced two-year-old colt named Tame That Tiger (Hold That Tiger), an unnamed yearling filly by The Cliff's Edge and a 2007 colt by Tale of the Cat. "We'll probably look at the Whitney ([G1] on July 28 at Saratoga) now," said McLaughlin, who won last year's Whitney with Horse of the Year Invasor (Arg) (Candy Stripes). "Luckily, we have another top one in the barn, and we'll be able to split 'em up, because we'll know where Invasor is going at all times."
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