Four Footed Fotos
By Sarah Mace
Expertly spotted by trainer Bill Mott, the all-weather-track-loving Flipcup delivered a narrow and thrilling victory Saturday in the Grade 3, $100,000 Arlington Matron run at 1 1/8-miles over the Polytrack at Arlington International Racecourse.
Making her 5-year-old debut, the Milwaukee Brew mare, bred by Team Penney Racing and owned in partnership by Team Penney, Wachtel Stable and Brous Stable, was seeking her fifth stakes victory and second graded score in the Matron. With a penchant for strong performances on the Woodbine Polytrack where she won the Grade 3 Maple Leaf in her penultimate start of last year, Flipcup obviously also took to the all-weather surface at Arlington her debut at the track.
Drawn at the rail in the nine-horse field and ridden for the first time by 2006 Arlington Champion jockey Christopher Emigh, Flipcup (5-1 post time odds) saved ground from fourth in the early stages, tracking the pace about three lengths off the lead, while longshot Tiz Lately carved out the first half mile in 49.22.
Advancing into third at the fence, and angling out three wide before the quarter pole, Flipcup overhauled new leader She’s Not Here and pacesetter Tiz Lately before taking the lead in upper stretch. A fresh challenge materialized on the outside from the fast-closing post time favorite No Fault of Mine.
Despite drifting out, and obliged to face a jockey’s objection (disallowed by the stewards), Flipcup held grimly on to her advantage and prevailed by a neck. The mile went in in 1:38.42, and the final time of the race was 1:51.32.
Emigh said, “I had the inside post so I just kept her relaxed and found a good spot, and I got lucky that I got outside on the far turn. She was just relaxed, so easy. I knew I had some horse left and it was a good horse race down the lane.”
As to the jockey’s objection and steward’s review, Emigh commented, “She was drifting out pretty good, but we didn’t ever bump, so I think it was a good call.”
A five-time stakes winner and seven more times stakes-placed, Flipcup’s complete record now stands at seven wins, six seconds and five thirds from 19 starts. Her winner’s share of the Arlington Matron purse drove her earnings over the half-million-dollar mark ($533,266).
Foaled at Waldorf Farm in North Chatham, Flipcup is the fourth winner from four starters and lone stakes winner out of Dream Affair, an unraced daughter of Touch Gold. Dream Affair, who issues from the family of Canadian juvenile champion Wavering Girl, was purchased by Team Penny Racing for $11,000 at the 2007 OBS Winter mixed sale.
Dream Affair delivered a colt by Cross Traffic this spring.
