Flameaway, photo by SV Photography
The same names keep coming up when people discuss their picks for the Kentucky Derby. You hear Bolt d’Oro, McKinzie, Justify, and Good Magic being brought up by everyone, and understandably so. But they aren’t the only horses that have displayed obvious signs of heart and natural talent. Their impressive performances have undoubtedly overshadowed the potential of many other top contenders for the first Saturday in May, but when you stop and think about how the favorites have dominated the Derby for the past several years, it makes you think that the trend is bound to end. There are some highly talented horses on the Triple Crown trail that are lacking the respect they deserve, and it makes you wonder if a truly talented horse is going to steal the roses at big odds due to the fact that he is simply being overlooked. One horse that comes strongly to mind in this case is the brave and versatile, Flameaway.
Flameaway is a horse that has shown pure talent and heart from the very beginning. At the age of two, the copper son of Scat Daddy broke his maiden at first asking, scoring in a 4 ½ furlong dash on the synthetic strip at Woodbine Racetrack. He followed that up with a win in the Skidmore Stakes at Saratoga on the main track, but then threw in a clunker at Churchill Downs, when he finished sixth in the Iroquois Stakes (Gr.3). However, Flameaway proved unflappable, and quickly bounced back to form, winning a dramatic stretch battle in the Dixiana Bourbon Stakes, which was moved from the turf to the main track as a result of the heavy rain showers that took place that day. It was a hard-earned victory that nearly resulted in a three-way photo finish, but Flameaway proved that he had the grit and determination to pull it off. And as he would soon prove, his determination would be his driving force in races to come. For him, quitting would never be an option.
A troubled eighth place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf suggested that Flameaway may not amount to much. However, the colt had other plans. Like he had before, Flameaway picked himself right back up and kept on going. This horse was going to make his name known.
Flameaway exploded out of the gate in the 7 ½ furlong Kitten’s Joy Stakes and boldly swept right to the lead. It was the first start of his three-year-old season, and the gutsy colt was determined to start the year off on a high note. With brazen confidence, Flameaway blazed down the track of Gulfstream Park, flaunting his speed and strength with every pump of his legs. The field chased wildly after him, but Flameaway proved unwilling to yield. The others would have to try to stop him, but as they would soon find out, any and all efforts wouldn’t be enough.
Flameaway gallantly led the fray into the stretch, unleashing every ounce of power and giving it all he had. Behind him, the rest of the competition was beginning to close in. With stunning speed, nearly the entire field began to surround him. Flameaway was being challenged from all sides. The situation looked hopeless. The field was baring down on him so fast, it looked like he would be inhaled by them at any moment. But Flameaway had other plans. He didn’t make it this far to accept defeat.
With a swift and decisive turn of foot, Flameaway powered forward. With his legs stretched out as far as they would go, he frantically kicked for home. Every time it looked like Flameaway was about to be passed, he would find another gear. Amazingly, Flameaway was able to find enough speed and strength to stay one step ahead of whoever challenged. It was almost as if he was fueled by the heat of the fight, powered and encouraged by the confrontation of his rival. The competitive spirit of the young horse was undeniable in that moment, as Flameaway threw his head down on the wire, declaring victory.
A month later, Flameaway stepped things up by entering the Sam F. Davis Stakes (Gr.3), at Tampa Bay Downs. It was a race that had coveted Kentucky Derby points on the line, and everyone wanted them. The competition was stiff as six talented thoroughbreds paraded to post for the 1 1/16 mile event. The main attention fell on Remsen Stakes winner, Catholic Boy, and the highly promising, Vino Rosso, who was currently undefeated. Going off at odds of 10-1, Flameaway was not on the top of most bettor’s lists.
The starting gates exploded open and in a trice, Flameaway was out and ready to fight. He dauntlessly rolled up to the lead, fully prepared to take this race start to finish. The lionhearted chestnut flared around the track, merrily leading his foes in a game of “catch me if you can”. As the stretch loomed ahead, Catholic Boy thought he could catch him. However, he would learn the hard way that no one was catching Flameaway.
Catholic Boy and Flameaway hooked up in the stretch and the battle was on. The tenacious pair relentlessly went at each other, dueling viciously with every stride. Catholic Boy was breathing fire down Flameaway’s neck, refusing to back away, but Flameaway did not falter. The steadfast colt remained, his will to win as unwavering as ever. For a moment, Catholic Boy began to rise to the advantage, but Flameaway wasted no time in shutting that down. Digging in, Flameaway shot forward to take back the lead. Not many horses have what it takes to regain the lead after being passed, but Flameaway made it look easy. It was clear that he was not going anywhere.
Refusing to budge, Flameaway stormed toward the wire with Catholic Boy. Catholic Boy threw everything he had at Flameaway, but it wasn’t enough. In the final strides, Catholic Boy began to give in to defeat, just as Flameaway began to find more. With breathtaking courage and determination, Flameaway soared forward to claim victory by half a length. In some horses, there is an extra quality that allows them to always stay one step ahead of the competition, no matter how difficult the challenge becomes. That quality is called heart, and in that moment, there was no doubt that Flameaway had been blessed with that rare and exceptional quality.
Flameaway’s final time of 1:42.44 in the Sam F. Davis Stakes became a new stakes record, validating the fact that he was the real deal. Flameaway managed to set the pace, accept the challenge of a highly accomplished rival, look that rival dead in the eye and fight, take that rival down, and still have enough speed and strength to finish the race in record time. Not many horses can claim to have done that.
Flameaway returned in the Tampa Bay Derby a month after his sublime triumph in the Sam F. Davis. It was obvious that the colt still lacked respect, as he went off at odds of 6-1. It was up to him to prove that his score in the Sam F. Davis was no fluke, and that he truly had what it takes to be a Kentucky Derby contender.
Things took a troubled turn when the starting gates swung open in the Tampa Bay Derby. The favorite, World of Trouble, broke quickly out of the gate, and without warning, darted right into the path of Flameaway, whipping him out at the break. World of Trouble hastily straightened out and charged to the front, but his strong interference undoubtedly knocked Flameaway out of his game. However, Flameaway is not the kind of horse to throw in the towel and give up when things get rough. Instead, the resilient colt shook it off and put himself right back in the game.
As the turn for home began to near, Flameaway made a daring move. Bolting from his position on the rail, Flameaway shot to the outside. It was a move that forced him to go wide and lose ground, but the valorous colt was unshaken. Up ahead, Quip had soared to the lead and was romping away. It looked like the race was over, but Flameaway wasn’t ready to give in yet. Unleashing a powerful rally, Flameaway charged after Quip, rapidly closing up the gap with every stride. A few erratic jumps in the stretch caused Flameaway to lose more ground and time, but as soon as he straightened himself out, it was on. Flameaway’s eyes zeroed in on his target, and he furiously went after Quip.
Time was running out, but Flameaway was closing in like a rocket. His hooves flailed wildly as he gave chase with alarming speed. As the wire neared, it became clear that Flameaway was out of time, and yet, he continued to finish his race. With breathtaking acceleration, Flameaway flew up beside Quip, just as the wire came. In the blink of an eye, Flameaway had gone from looking hopelessly defeated to finishing less than a length away from the winner. Flameaway had been taken out of his game from the start of the race, but still managed to make some noise. One more jump, and the results would have been totally different.
Not many horses can be knocked out at the start, lose ground in the stretch, and still put forth a winning effort. While Flameaway may have lost the Tampa Bay Derby, he went down with nothing but dignity and valor, proving that no matter what, he will run his race. His defeat in the Tampa Bay Derby gave me even more respect for him than I already had because it showed what he is truly made of. Everything went wrong for him in the race and it still wasn’t enough to discourage him. This horse has an unwavering will to win and he will stop at nothing to get to the top. With all the traffic and commotion that takes place in the twenty horse field of the Kentucky Derby, this is exactly the kind of horse you want. Resilient, bold, and fearless, Flameaway won’t let any obstacle stand in his way.
Flameaway has already accomplished way more than people give him credit for. To date, he has risen to glory on a synthetic track, the dirt, the turf, and the mud, at distances ranging from a 4 ½ furlong sprints to 1 1/16 miles. It is a resume that most of his peers cannot claim to have. Flameaway has consistently faced formidable competition, and has displayed countless times that he will do whatever it takes to win. He has the uncanny ability to somehow always find more speed when he needs it, and has the stamina and determination to carry it until the race ends.
In many ways, Flameaway reminds me of the plucky Kentucky Derby winner that surprised us all in 2012, I’ll Have Another. I’ll Have Another was an incredibly talented horse that always had just enough fight to make it to the wire. He flew into the Kentucky Derby a bit under the radar, when in reality, his talent was there all along. Just like I’ll Have Another, Flameaway is a horse that is driven by determination, and has the speed, versatility, and heart to take on anyone you put in front of him. Flameaway has shown nothing but consistency, courage, adaptability, and class this year, and there is no reason to think that his fighting spirit won’t continue all the way to Kentucky. Distance, surface, track conditions, and competition do not matter to Flameaway. He just wants to run his race. In this sport, you can’t ask for more than that. Most of the prep races this year have been dominated by underdogs, so why not take a stand against the favorites in the Kentucky Derby? Flameaway may just surprise us.
Thank you to SV Photography for providing the pictures of Flameaway!
Flameaway in the winner's circle after his courageous score in the Sam F. Davis, photo by SV Photography
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