Flameaway dashing to glory in the Sam F. Davis Stakes, photo by SV Photography
Versatility, determination, and heart are what it takes to win a race. On February 10th, Flameaway called upon such qualities to carry him over the finish line in front in the Sam F. Davis Stakes. It was a well-earned win, captured with guts and courage. It is always a good sign to see a horse have the will to fight, and for Flameaway, this wasn’t the first time his heart was on display.
Flameaway began his career at the age of two, at Woodbine Racetrack. He entered a 4 ½ furlong dash on the synthetic track, and aced it on his first try. From there he went to Saratoga to compete in his first stakes race, the Skidmore Stakes. The track was wet, but it was not enough to trip up Flameaway. With a powerful burst of speed in the stretch, Flameaway closed in to overtake the leaders and fend off the closing challenge of El Dulce to win convincingly.
Flameaway competed in the Iroquois Stakes in his next start, but ran a disappointing sixth. However, the young colt was not dismayed, and boldly dove right into the Dixiana Bourbon Stakes at Keeneland for his next start. The race was supposed to be run on the turf, but a furious downpour of rain left the course unsuitable to compete on, so the race was moved to the main track as a result.
The starting gates sprung open and the horses brazenly charged their way into a sea of slop and mud. Water splashed up in all directions under the thundering hooves, but the sodden conditions did little to dismay the rally of Flameaway, who had raced with the leaders in his sights the entire way around. The colt was loaded and ready to strike, and when the field barreled down the stretch, he launched his attack. With a swift turn of foot, Flameaway shot forward to confront his rivals. It quickly became clear that Tap Daddy and Tigers Rule were not going to go down without a fight, but Flameaway proved equally as stubborn.
With the finish line fast approaching, Flameaway gave it all he had. He furiously commanded his legs to run as hard and as fast as they could carry him. Stretching his neck out as far as he could, Flameaway determinedly bounded closer and closer. He soon found himself on even terms with Tap Daddy and Tigers Rule, who were going all out on the front. It was an intense rally, but Flameaway wasn’t done yet. Digging in, he somehow found another gear and thrust himself forward, right in time for the wire. Throwing his nose down, Flameaway whisked glory away from his foes in a victory that couldn’t have been timed any better.
Flameaway ran a troubled eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf in his next start. He made his next start as a three-year-old on the turf, in the Kitten’s Joy Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Flameaway took it to his rivals right out of the gate, flaunting his speed on the front end. He led every step of the way without issue, but when the field reached the stretch, things took a dramatic turn. Nearly the entire field began to close in on Flameaway. Attacks were being launched from all sides, but Flameaway was not afraid. The unflappable colt stood his ground and fired back, kicking for home with unwavering perseverance. Every time it looked like he was about to be passed, Flameaway would find more fight. He had an answer for every question his rivals threw at him, and absolutely refused to give in to defeat. Flameaway was not about to let himself get swallowed by the entire field after making it this far. In a sublime performance of courage and grit, Flameaway soared over the wire to win in a dramatic photo finish.
After his heroic effort in the Kitten’s Joy Stakes, Flameaway stepped things up by entering the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. There were coveted Kentucky Derby points on the line, and everyone wanted them.
When the starting gates burst open, Flameaway wasted no time getting right to work. With unyielding speed, Flameaway dauntlessly led the field on a merry chase around the dirt oval, never looking back as he soared away. With the stretch looming ahead, the favorite, Catholic Boy, went after Flameaway to make a race of it. For a moment, it looked as if Catholic Boy might streak by, but Flameaway had other plans. The stouthearted colt dug in gamely, rising to the challenge with gusto and valor. Flameaway and Catholic Boy hooked up in an intense battle, fighting each other tooth and nail with every frenzied stride. Neither colt was willing to give in, so it was going to have to come down to whoever had the most guts. And as Flameaway had already proven countless times before, he had plenty of fight in him.
Feeding off of the challenge of Catholic Boy, Flameaway found more speed and strength, and began pulling away. With his undeniable will to win flaring brightly, Flameaway stormed over the finish line by half a length. His final time for the 1 1/16 mile race came in 1:42.44, establishing a new stakes-record.
Flameaway is a horse that is fueled by the heat of a fight. All he has to do to find the strength to finish is look his rival in the eye, and it’s all over from there. His blatant speed and fearless attitude have already carried him far, and he shows no signs of stopping. This versatile youngster has proven his class on several occasions, winning on a synthetic strip, the turf, the dirt, and the mud. Regardless of the track, surface, or conditions, Flameaway runs his race.
The horses that Flameaway has been running with appear to be quality competition. For example, Speed Franco, who Flameaway soundly put away in the Kitten’s Joy Stakes, has come back to win the Dania Beach Stakes. And Catholic Boy, who Flameaway out-gutted in the Sam F. Davis, is a very talented horse in his own right. Before falling victim to Flameaway, Catholic Boy had won the With Anticipation Stakes and the Remsen Stakes, where he defeated Avery Island, who was the impressive winner of the Nashua Stakes (Gr.2) and the Withers Stakes (Gr. 3).
The quality of horses that Flameaway has defeated, along with his track-record performance and proven versatility only validates the fact that he is a serious racehorse. The intrepid beast has yet to meet a challenge that he isn’t willing to take on. As soon as he finds himself in front, he refuses to back away, invariably steadfast and fearless in his pursuit of glory. No matter how arduous things get, Flameaway somehow always seems to find a way to keep going. His courage and heart, combined with his scorching speed and gallantry are going to take him far in this sport. Whether it be in the Triple Crown races or somewhere else down the road, Flameaway has a bright future.
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