Page 152 - SpeedhorseMarch2021

RACING NEWS
Los Alamitos Winter Derby-G1
FLASH BAK
by Tracy Gantz
Trainer Jaime Gomez could be forgiven for thinking that Flash Bak might have been difficult to train, given his experience with Flash Bak’s dam, Checknbac.
“The mother was one of the craziest horses that I’ve ever trained,” said Gomez after Flash Bak won the $203,950 Los Alamitos Winter Derby-G1 on Feb. 13.
Gomez trained Checknbac for Dutch Masters III, which also races Flash Bak. Despite her antics, Checknbac won the 2006 Governor’s Cup Futurity-G1 and 2007 La Pacifica Handicap, both at Los Alamitos.
Flash Bak, however, is much different from his mother.
“He’s like a pet,” said Gomez. “He stands in the winner’s circle so calmly. He lays down all day long. He’s relaxed and super smart.”
Flash Bak gave Dr. James Streelman of Dutch Masters III his second win in the Winter Derby, following Imaqtpie in 2017. It was the first time an owner had won the race more than once.
Flash Bak qualified the fastest for the 400-yard Derby on Jan. 23 and went off as the 11-10 favorite in the finals under jockey Oscar Peinado. He broke on top without incident from the 6-gate, held the lead throughout, and won easily by 3/4-length in :19.511, while posting a 98 speed index.
Gomez is pleased with the way Flash Bak is growing into himself.
“This guy was really big as a yearling,” the trainer said. “He was slow to develop. When
I ran him in the Ed Burke (Million Futurity trial), I saw that the horse could run a lot. He didn’t qualify. Things happen, you know. This horse is a real horse.”
In his second start, his trial for the Ed Burke Million Futurity-G1, Flash Bak broke his maiden, though not in a quick enough time for the final. Instead, he came back and won an allowance race at Ruidoso Downs prior to finishing second in his trial for the All American Futurity-G1. That effort did get him into the final of the big race, but he finished ninth and was moved up to sev- enth after two disqualifications for interference.
“He didn’t have a chance in the All American,” said Gomez. “He didn’t break. I sent (jockey) Jesus Rios Ayala to Ruidoso two weeks before to be with the horse. The horse didn’t even break.”
Flash Bak returned to Los Alamitos, where he qualified for the Los Alamitos $2 Million Futurity-G1 and ran second to the filly Apollitical Patty.
“I thought we were going to win, but she ran the race of her life,” Gomez said.
Flash Bak winning the $203,950 Los Alamitos Winter Derby-G1 under Oscar Peinado.
Los Alamitos
$203,950 • 400 yards :19.511 • si 98
MOONIN THE EAGLE
si 111
Bred by: Vessels Stallion Farm LLC Raced to 4 • $548,985 14-7(4)-2(2)-1
202 f., 2 SW • $752,154
ONE FAMOUS EAGLE si 101 Bred by: Johnny Trotter Raced to 3 • $1,387,453 11-7(3)-0-2
1,125 f., 67 SW • $31,486,381
Bred by: Jim Streelman & Bill Dale
Raced to 3 $536,126 9-5(1)-2(1)-0
YOUR FIRST MOON si 96
Bred by: Vessels Stallion Farm LLC
Raced to 4 • $750,726 19-7(2)-2-2(2)
17 f., 4 SW • $2,297,864
CHECKNBAC
si 98
Bred by: J. Francisco Diaz Raced to 3 • $216,410 13-7(2)-1-1(1)
12 f., 2 SW • $1,073,922
CHECK HIM OUT si 98 Bred by: Zory Kuzyk Raced to 3 • $418,528 18-9(3)-1-3(1)
603 f., 18 SW • $8,530,311
RUNNING BAC si 101
Bred by: Kevin V. Glasmann Raced to 5 • $111,037 21-10(4)-0-2(1)
26 f., 2 SW • $836,428
150 SPEEDHORSE March 2021
Los Alamitos
FLASH BAK, ‘18-g.