Arcadia, CA
Turf specialist jockey Brice Blanc worked his magic again, guiding huge longshot Flamboyant to a major upset victory in the $200K La Puente Stakes at Santa Anita.
Blanc is well-known to be one of the country's best turf riders and proved it yet again aboard Flamboyant.
The 45-1 longshot closed from ninth in a field of 11 to win by a geared-down neck over the 5-2 favorite Obviously.
The favorite set fast opening fractional times of :23 and :46 for the 1 1/8 mile distance. Obviously enjoys being on the lead and ran a winning race, but simply couldn't hang on in the last few jumps.
Flamboyant ended a 10-race losing streak with the victory and was visually full of run entering the stretch. The gelding was the only one making up substantial ground on the favorite and is certainly one to watch moving forward if able to get pace to run at again.
Flamboyant returned a huge $94.20 to win. Running the 1 1/8 mile distance in a nice 1:46 final time.
Bal a Bali finished third to round out the trifecta and was unthreatening to the exacta.