Multiple Grade 3 winner Flamethrowintexan gave trainer Jim Penney his fifth career victory in the $250,000 Longacres Mile Handicap (G3) as the five-year-old Way West (Fr) gelding edged Papi Chullo by a neck on Sunday at Emerald Downs.
The pacesetting Flamethrowintexan dueled throughout the stretch with 2-to-1 favorite Papi Chullo, who chased the pace in second through a half-mile. Flamethrowintexan led by a half-length in early stretch and dug in with determination while repeatedly exchanging bumps with Papi Chullo as the two approached the finish of the one-mile race.
Flamethrowintexan and jockey Ricky Frazier maintained a 1 1/2-length lead through a half-mile, clicking off swift fractions of :22.80 and :45.40.
California shipper Papi Chullo and jockey Robby Albarado pulled within a half-length of the leader at the quarter-pole, but could not get past Flamethrowintexan, who prevailed in 1:34.40 on a fast track.
"When Robby ran beside me around the turn I knew his horse likes to lay on horses," Frazier said. "He bumped us a couple of times. 'Tex' just loves to fight back and he wouldn't let him."
Grade 3 winner Southern Africa finished third, five lengths behind Papi Chullo.
Grasshopper Stable's Flamethrowintexan earned his first graded stakes win in the 2004 British Columbia Derby (Can-G3) and entered off his second straight victory in the Mt. Rainier Breeders' Cup Handicap on July 30 at Emerald. He finished sixth in last year's edition of the Longacres after winning the
Mt. Rainer.
"I knew our horse was prepared correctly," owner Paul Heist said. "The only way I thought he would get beat was if one horse was better, but 'Tex' was better today."
Flamethrowintexan won for the 14th time in 23 career starts and increased his earnings to $702,517. Bred in
Florida, the chestnut gelding is one of two winners from three starters out of the winning Citidancer mare Willalady.--J.A.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
