Flamboyant shocks in the La Puente Stakes

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.

Om opens Santa Anita winter meet in style

Arcadia, CA

Om rolls home in the Grade II Mathis Brother Mile opening day at Santa Anita winter meet.

The even-money favorite had an ideal trip under Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens. Sitting in second behind pace-setting Acceptance through standard opening fractional times of :23 and :47, before kicking clear down the lane to win by an easy 1 3/4 lengths.

This was Om's fifth lifetime victory and is unbeaten in three starts on the Santa Anita turf course.

Longshot Perfectly Majestic chased home the winner to run a solid second place finish, but was really no match for Om at the end of the day. Jockey Kent Desormeaux was all out on the 24-1 shot, while Stevens was all hands on the favorite. 

Vigilante was a well beaten third, completing the trifecta, finishing 4 3/4 lengths behind Majestic.

Om returned $4.40 to win and finished the 1-mile turf race in a quick 1:35 final time.

The three-year-old colt Om is expected to return on the turf at Santa Anita in his next start.     

Champion Shared Belief Dies after Colic Episode

Davis, CA

Shared Belief, the champion 2-year-old of 2013 and Eclipse Award winner died Wednesday after developing colic.

The gelding was in training at Golden Gate Fields to return to the races after suffering a non-displaced hip fracture in April at Charles Town. 

Co-owner Alex Solis II and trainer Jerry Hollendorfer reported the champion trained well Wednesday morning, but returning to his stall he broke out in a sweat and was unresponsive to initial treatment.

The 2014 Breeders' Cup Classic favorite was rushed to the University of California-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine where surgery was attempted, but was unsuccessful.

Equine colic can be defined as severe abdominal pain and is one of the leading killers among domesticated horses. 

Shared Belief won 10 of 12 starts and finished with more than $2.9M in career earnings.

Majority owner and radio personality Jim Rome said he was devastated to announce the passing of the champion and that he was heartbroken with the loss. 

Solid Wager last to first in Cary Grant Stakes

Del Mar, CA

Solid Wager rallied from last to first in the $100K Cary Grant Stakes at Del Mar Sunday.

Under newly married jockey Joe Talamo the gelding kicked into gear down the stretch. Passing the entire field en route to a half length victory.

The race returned very quick fractional times of :22 and :44 for the 7f distance that set the table for the closer.

Raised a Secret and Got Even rounded out the trifecta. While defending champion and favorite Big Macher simply didn't have it finishing in seventh. 

Solid Wager returned $20 to win and was the only one making a strong run at the end. Finishing the 7f in a solid 1:22 final time.

Solid Wager now has over $300K in earnings for winning trainer Peter Miller. 

Lucky Folie Wires field in Desi Arnaz stakes

Del Mar, CA

Lucky Folie took the field wire-to-wire in the $100K Desi Arnaz Stakes Sunday.

Ridden to victory by Hall of Famer Gary Stevens. The second choice kicked clear early, running very quick splits of :22 and :44 for the distance, and dug-in deep stretch for the half-length win.

The below even money favorite Pretty N Cool loomed around the turn, but simply did not have any run down the lane. Weakening to last.

Longshots Treasuring and Street Fancy rounded out the top three, but if going to make an impact at this level they should have made more of a dent in the lane.

Lucky Folie returned $6.40 to win and ran the 7f in a fast 1:23 final time. She is one to watch moving forward after this classy performance.

The two-year-old is now 2-for-3 lifetime with $114K in earnings and according to trainer Richard Mandella her next start could be in the Starlet at Los Alamitos Dec. 12th.