Staton Flurry’s Interstatedaydream third choice 6-1 in the 13-horse sophomore track, prevailed in the May 20 George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) race at Pimlico racetrack.
Interstatedaydream, a half-Ontario daughter of Classic Empire is a convincing winner 1/4 of Black-Eyed Susan’s length on 2-1 favorites Adare Manor . It’s a back length Radio Day in part three. Maryland’s hopes were dashed, with Divine Hunter finish fourth and Luna Belle End of day 11 tired.
Flurry, who has been a thoroughbred owner for about a decade, now has another serious act on his hands to join 2020 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Shed mosthedevil . Both Flurry stars were trained by Brad Cox and have been ridden by Florent Geroux.
Flurry said after the race: “All the wins are great whether it’s the claimant of $5,000 or the 1st place. It all means a lot.
True , also qualified, who did not enter the Kentucky Oaks two weeks ago, broke out strong and set the pace early in Black-Eyed Susan while being tracked by Interstatedaydream and Adare Manor. The initial segments of the nine-horse race began with: 23.34, :46.65 and 1: 10.46. Geroux had an enjoyable ride on the winner’s boat, taking his time with only two more to go. Interstatedaydream caught up with her turn and she quickly found a leader at the top of the stretch. She opened two lengths when she crossed a mile in 1:35.53. The last time was 1:48.73.
“It was set up perfectly,” said Flurry. She broke great and Flo ran a good race. “Speed just came back to us.”
“She was very comfortable throughout the race and she had something left in the lane,” said Geroux. “I was really expecting Adare Manor to be put a bit in the front. But when (driver) Johnny (Velazquez) was willing to sit right next to me, I just wanted to benefit it.”
Cox wasn’t in Pimlico’s hands, but Flurry had a lot of confidence.
“We talked last night and he said she was training really well,” he said.
Flurry, with support from lifeline agent Clay Scherer, purchased Interstatedaydream for $175,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Spring Sale last year selling 2-year-olds in training from Ciaran dealer Wavertree Stables Dunne. She received a $105,000 short-term purchase in Rascal Bloodstock’s January 2020 sale of Rascal Bloodstock’s Keeneland Horses from the estate of William D. Graham’s Windhaven Ranch. She sold it back to Lehigh Bloodstock for $130,000 at Keeneland’s September Five Sale from Paramount Sales.
“She had a great track record at the OBS training sale,” says Scherer. “Ciaran Dunne’s got her in good shape. She’s a bit immature when she comes into the profession, but you can tell she’s getting better every day. Ciaran said, ‘Trust me, she’s a child. good horse.”
“Everything she did, she just got better each time. She grew and filled.”
Scheler has been with Flurry since he entered the business. Scherer helped him get his first horse at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., and the horse won. The next purchase of plasma agent is Shedhesthedevil.
The score is third by flying filly after five starts. The first prize of $150,000 increased her earnings to $351,225.
She broke her maiden first request last June at Saratoga went 5 1/2 times and placed second behind Wicked Halo in 6 1/2 Adirondack (G2) stakes at Spa.
This year, she scored an 8 1/4-length open win over optional claimants at Oaklawn on March 13. Flurry and Cox pressed her in. KeenelandApril 8th by Central Bank Ashland Stakes (G1), where she finished a good third behind Nest and Cocktail Moments.
“Two and a half weeks, three weeks between the Oaklawn and Ashland benefits is just a little too close,” says Flurry. “We knew it was going to happen, but we took a shot. She had a run at Oaklawn and not so much that she beat the other horses, but that’s when she ran it in ( 1/16 mile in 1:43.31) We tested Ashland to see if she deserved to be shot in (Kentucky) Oaks; if not, we’ll try another. of Ashland, Brad and I looked at each other and said, ‘Go see Black-Eyed Susan.’
“It’s good to earn her some kind of black skin because she’s so close. A win for her of black type would get her a little monkey on her back.”
Black-Eyed winner Susan was bred in Ontario by the late William D. Graham and does not belong to Uncle Mo Babcock mare. Babcock’s first pony, Emmeline, was placed in Woodbine Oaks presented by Budweiser. She has a 2 year old child who has not been appreciated by The oath is broken . The underrated Babcock is the half-sister to Canada’s Horse of the Year Not collected and Dancing Raven wins the bet.
“We’ll see where we go — maybe Woodbine Oaks — see if we can win the championship,” Flurry added after the race.
Video: George E. Mitchell Black Eyes Susan S. (G2)
