Page 51 - 12 October 2012

Mildred N. Vessels Memorial Handicap-G1
FlaMe N FlasH
by Tracy Gantz
Trainer Juan Aleman knows the value of giving horses time off. After Flame N
Flash won the April 6 La Primera del Ano Derby-G3, he turned her out for three months. It paid off because she returned to capture
the Sept. 30 Mildred N. Vessels Memorial Handicap-G1 at Los Alamitos. That also earned her a berth in the Dec. 15 Champion of Champions-G1 at the track.
“The filly matured a lot since we turned her out,” said Aleman. “Especially with fillies, I think you need to give them a little time off so they can come back fresh toward the end of the year.”
Looking robust and healthy in the pad- dock, Flame N Flash was ready for a good effort in the Millie Vessels. The only 3-year- old, she was in against a tough bunch. The field included another Aleman trainee, 6-5 favorite Fredaville, winner of the Merial Los Alamitos Distaff Challenge-G3 and Merial Remington Park Distaff Challenge, as well as Champion Flying Fig.
Jockey Francisco Rubio got Flame N Flash out of the gate on top from post position nine. Fredaville from post 10 ran with her stablemate, and Thisfeatureisspecial came on late, but neither could catch Flame N Flash, who won by a half-length in 19:549 for the 400 yards. Thisfeatureisspecial outfinished Fredaville by another half-length for second.
Robert Williams, who owns Flame N Flash,
has been battling serious health issues and was unable to travel from Vernal, Utah, to see the race. His daughter Cindy attended in his place.
“I’m sure my dad is just grinning from ear to ear,” said Cindy. “He’s home watching with another sibling.”
Flame N Flash has run well throughout her career. In 12 lifetime starts, she has won six and only twice has finished worse than third. Aleman took over her training late last year, and in her second start for him, she captured the Dec. 11 Los Alamitos Juvenile Invitational Stakes. She also ran fourth to Kobe in the Feb. 18 Los Alamitos Winter Derby-G1.
Aleman felt Flame N Flash was ready for a good effort. “She worked like a rocket under wraps,” he said. “It looks like she pulled up good after the race, and she finished strong.”
Aleman was winning his fourth Millie Vessels, including last year’s running with Fovee. He knows that taking on older horses in the Champion of Champions will be difficult, but he feels Flame N Flash has room to improve.
“She’s a January baby, so she’ll mature from here to the end of the year,” he said. “It’s going to be tough, of course. But the filly has so much heart. She’s going to try her butt off.”
Dr. Ed Allred bred Flame N Flash in
California, and Williams purchased her for $90,000 at the 2010 Los Alamitos Equine Sale. She has now earned $248,726. The filly comes from a talented female fam- ily. Her dam, stakes winner Oh La Proud, has produced seven stakes winners and
two stakes-placed horses among her 17 win- ners from 27 starters. Those runners include Champions Hawkish and Hawkinson.
Ramon Sanchez rode runner-up Thisfeatureisspecial (Feature Mr Jess-This Girl Is Special). Owned by Mauro Eli Zaborowsky and trained by Paul Jones, the 5-year-old
mare won the Junos Request Stakes-G2 at Remington Park earlier this year.
Robert Gentry’s homebred Fredaville (Mr Jess Perry-Fearless Freda) was ridden by regular rider G.R. Carter Jr.
Completing the field in the Millie Vessels Handicap were Onemoreglass-ofwine (Heza Fast Dash-Fine Wines), Enjoy The Walk (Walk Thru Fire-Enjoy The Moment), Royally Sandra (Royal Quick Dash-Lady McDiva), Flying Fig (Corona Cartel-Tender Flyer), Perrier Cartel (Corona Cartel-Perrier Jouet), Classy Sassy Check (Check Him Out-Classic Sassy Chic), and Azshecanfly (Azyoucansee-PJ Flying Phoebe).
Los Alamitos $150,000 • 400 yards :19.549 • si 90
First Down Dash
Walk Thru Fire
Sweet Beduino
FLAME N FLASH, ’09-f.
Shirley’s Champion-TB
Oh La Proud
Oh La Ree
The 3-year-old filly Flame N Flash earned a Champion of Champions-G1 berth with her half-length win in the Mildred N. Vessels Memorial Handicap-G1.
SPEEDHORSE, October 12, 2012 49
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