Motorious (GB) © Benoit Photo
Anthony Fanticola’s English-bred Motorious, the 2-1 betting choice with Antonio Fresu in the saddle, rallied from out of the clouds in the stretch to win the $150,000 Green Flash Handicap for older turf sprinters.
Outrun in the early stages of the five furlong dash on the infield Jimmy Durante Turf Course, Motorious, who won the 2023 edition of the Green Flash, got up in the last sixteenth to score by three-quarters of a length over longshot Johnny Podres, with No Nay Hudson third in the field of ten. Noble Reflection and Connie Swingle were scratched.
Motorious, a six-year-old gelded son of Mahaarat trained by Phil D’Amato, ran the five furlongs in a rapid 56.14. It was the seventh success in 19 starts and first prize of $90,000 increased his earnings to $517,604.
The Green Flash is a “Win and You’re In” event ensuring the winner a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint in November at Del Mar.
Motorious returned $6.60 to his backers on the day of the Grade I $1 million FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic.
ANTONIO FRESU (Motorious (GB), winner) – “I was really happy with the way the horse was breezing the last few times. When I read the race I could see there was going to be a lot of speed, you know. So the plan was from the outside post try to save ground and plough forward. It worked out perfectly, so I couldn’t be happier about that.”
PHIL D’AMATO (Motorious, winner) – “It’s a good feeling. This horse didn’t get things his own way starting off this year and he came back to a turf course he really likes and got a nice set up and showed what he can do. You never know with these fractions what you’re going to get. She (Sassy Nature) just 21 and changed it and at this meet it’s very fast.”
FRACTIONS: :21.77 :44.38 :56.14
The stakes win is the fourth of the meet for rider Fresu, but his first in the Green Flash. He now has eight stakes wins at Del Mar.
The stakes win is the fifth of the meet for trainer D’Amato, but his second (same horse last year) in the Green Flash. He now has 59 stakes wins at Del Mar.
The winning owner is Anthony Fanticola is from Newport Coast, CA.