TORONTO, November 12, 2022 – Our Flash Drive watched an early front-end scuffle unfold and then delivered a knockout blow down the lane in Saturday’s Grade 2 $176,550 Bessarabian Stakes, at Woodbine.
Lorena, Hazelbrook and Loyalty all broke sharply at the start of the 7-furlong main track race for fillies & mares, 3-year-olds and upward, with Lorena eventually claiming top spot, then leading her eight foes through an opening split reached in :23.25.
Sweet Enough, at 31-1, then burst through along the rail to hold a head advantage after a half in :45.44, as Patrick Husbands, aboard Our Flash Drive, the 8-5 choice, kept his charge running comfortably and unfettered in sixth spot.
When the field navigated the turn for home, Our Flash Drive was plugged-in and ready to pounce, effortlessly gliding past her rivals and then turning on the jets to dash away from her foes.
Ahead by two lengths at the stretch call, the 4-year-old daughter of Ghostzapper, bred and owned by Live Oak, breezed home a 5 ¾-length winner in a time of 1:20.76. Hazelbrook edged Loyalty for second, while 54-1 Awesome Treat was fourth.
Our Flash Drive came into the Bessarabian off a strong runner-up performance in the Grade 3 Ontario Matron on October 22.
“I was getting the perfect trip down the backside [today], trying to find out where Ortiz [jockey, Jose, aboard Artie’s Princess] is. I just tipped out at the top of the lane. Actually, she ran a winning race [in the Ontario Matron]. That horse [Kate’s Kingdom] just followed me and caught me.”
It was third graded stakes score for Our Flash Drive, who took last year’s Grade 3 Selene and Grade 3 Ontario Colleen. The well-traveled Florida-bred also won the Fasig-Tipton De La Rose Stakes this August at Saratoga.
The Mark Casse trainee is now 5-3-1 from 14 starts.
Our Flash Drive paid $5.20 for the win.
Woodbine Communications / @WoodbineComms on Twitter