Firenze Flavor | Benoit
It may’ve started slow, but Firenze Flavor (Liam’s Map) was flying late to contribute her part toward a thrilling finish in the GIII Honeymoon Stakes at Santa Anita, pulling a 7-1 upset in the process.
Last seen Apr. 25 when she defeated optional claiming company over this turf course, the Patrick Gallagher charge had broken her maiden Jan. 20 by three-quarters of a length, but ran a flat seventh in between her two victories Feb. 21. in her first attempt at beating the optional claiming condition.
In no rush after the jump here, the grey watched it all unfold as the caboose while 6-5 favorite Jungle Peace (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) set the tempo through :23.84, :48.10, and 1:11.72 largely unchallenged. Three wide on both bends, and on the move in the final turn as Jungle Peace fought off the first challenger, Firenze Flavor took the overland route with Miso Phansy (Karakontie {Jpn}) trying to find space among runners from the inside. Closing the gap relentlessly but with the runner-up looming large in the final strides, the victress turned out to be Lady Luck’s favorite here, claiming the top spot by the slimmest of margins. Miso Phansy nailed Jungle Peace by a similar margin in a wild photo for the top spots.
We’ve always liked the filly,” said Gallagher. “Her first race was good, her second race was good, her third was not so good. Then she came back and won last time.”
“I think there’s more to come for her, but first I need to go to LensCrafters. I thought she finished third.”
Rider Drayden Van Dyke, who was riding Firenze Flavor for the first time, added, “My main thing was to get along with her. She likes to throw her head around, I saw, from her previous races and watching her in the morning. She likes to throw it down if you fight with her. So, I was just trying to get along with her the best I could and go from there.”
“I was a little worried, she kicked nice for me and was trying to shy away from the horse to my inside. As I got her closer to her, she dug in the last little part, and it just worked out good for me. I just want to thank Paddy and the connections.”
Pedigree Notes:
Firenze Flavor is the fourth winner for her dam, and the most accomplished of her siblings with this black-type score. She has a juvenile half-sister named Ibiza Flavor (Game Winner) as well as a 2025 half-brother by Cyberknife. Dam Summer Escape is a half-sister to MGSW Swift Warrior (First Samurai) and MGSW Dice Flavor (Scat Daddy).
Sunday, Santa Anita
HONEYMOON S.-GIII, $100,500, Santa Anita, 5-18, 3yo, f, 1 1/8mT, 1:49.91, fm.
1–FIRENZE FLAVOR, 122, f, 3, by Liam’s Map
1st Dam: Summer Escape, by Giant’s Causeway
2nd Dam: Afleet Summer, by Afleet
3rd Dam: Steal the Thunder, by Lyphard
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O/B-Oda Racing and U.S. Equine (KY); T-Patrick Gallagher; J-Drayden Van Dyke. $60,000. Lifetime Record: 5-3-0-0, $134,180. Werk Nick Rating: D+. Click for eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Miso Phansy, 120, f, 3, Karakontie (Jpn)–Sandy Cheeks, by Souvenir Copy. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O-Ciaglia Racing LLC and Robin Christensen; B-Ciaglia Racing LLC (CA); T-Leonard Powell. $20,000.
3–Jungle Peace (Ire), 120, f, 3, Bungle Inthejungle (GB)–Peace Treaty (Ire), by War Command. (€14,000 Ylg ’23 GOFOR2; £5,000 RNA 2yo ’24 GOUKB). O-CYBT, McLean Racing Stables, McClanahan, Jerry, Nentwig, Michael and Peskoff, Jeremy; B-M. Brigid B. Ltd (IRE); T-Philip D’Amato. $12,000.
Margins: NO, NO, 3/4. Odds: 7.70, 5.00, 1.20.
Also Ran: As Catch Can, Schilflied, Atia.
