Flat Out bolts home in Smarty Jones

Oxbow Racing's FLAT OUT (Flatter) had two questions to answer in Monday's

$50,000

Smarty Jones S. at Oaklawn Park: how would the recent Fair Grounds maiden

winner fare in his first try against stakes rivals, and how would he handle the

stretch-out from six furlongs to one mile? The Charles Dickey trainee responded

convincingly on both counts, rallying boldly in the stretch to win by 3 1/2

lengths. With Julio Garcia aboard, the bay colt completed the test in 1:39 on

the fast track.

In the early going, Flat Out was content to rate in sixth in the seven-horse

field, as a pace duel ensued between even-money favorite Professor Z (Grand

Slam) and Silver Bayer (Smoke Glacken). Professor Z kept his head in front

through fractions of :23 2/5 and :47 1/5, but he lost the advantage to Silver

Bayer by the time they reached six furlongs in 1:12 4/5.

Leaving the far turn, Professor Z faded out of contention. Meanwhile, the

trailblazing Silver Bayer knuckled down for the drive, the advancing Gresham

(Seeking the Gold) maneuvered for room on the inside, and Flat Out was traveling

best of all on the outside. Coming with an overpowering rush, Flat Out burst

clear to win going away, and the 5-1 third choice returned $12.60, $5.60 and

$3.80.

Silver Bayer repelled Gresham for runner-up honors by 1 3/4 lengths, paying

$10.40 and $5 at nearly 14-1. Gresham, the nearly 9-2 second choice, furnished

$3.20 to show. The exacta was worth $123.20, while the 7-1-2 trifecta totaled

$644.20. Bertsgoldenmissile (Golden Missile), who had been forwardly placed

early, tired to fourth, followed by Proceed Bee (Bernstein), Ninth Client

(Malibu Moon) and Professor Z.

Flat Out now sports a mark of 3-2-0-0, $55,200. Sixth on his debut at

Churchill Downs for Dickey, he then took up residence at Fair Grounds with

trainer Morris Nicks, for whom he broke his maiden on December 14.

Bred in Florida by Nikolaus Bock, Flat Out was an $11,000 OBS October

weanling. As a yearling the following summer, he was purchased by his current

connections for $85,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July sale.

Flat Out is out of multiple stakes victress Cresta Lil (Cresta Rider), making

him a half-brother to stakes winner Our Best Man (Runaway Groom), a juvenile

filly named Lil Indy (Anasheed) and an unnamed yearling filly by Wildcat Heir.

This is the family of Grade 1 heroines Got Koko (Signal Tap) and Tarlow (Stormin

Fever).

"He has shown a lot of ability and talent thus far," Dickey said. "We will

nominate him to the Southwest S. ([G3] on February 16) and take a look at all

our options."