Flameaway

Mark Casse-trained Flameaway broke his maiden in his career debut at Woodbine in May 2017, and then came back in his next start to take the black-type Skidmore Stakes on a muddy track at Saratoga in August. John Oxley’s Scat Daddy colt then started in the Grade 3 Iroqouis Stakes at Churchill Downs but finished a disappointing sixth and his connections targeted the 1 1/16-mile Grade 2 Dixiana Bourbon Stakes on turf at Keeneland for his next start.

That race was rained off of the turf on Oct. 8, but Flameaway started anyway and made a strong rally to reach contention in deep stretch under Julien Leparoux. He won a three-way photo with Tap Daddy and Tigers Rule to pick up his second stakes win. Initially, the Bourbon Stakes lost its “Win and You’re In” status due to the surface change, but after review, the Breeders’ Cup granted an automatic berth to the Nov. 3 Juvenile Turf at Del Mar to Flameaway. 

After finishing eighth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf to close his 2-year-old season, Flameaway won the Kitten's Joy Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 6 in his 3-year-old bow. He returned to the main track for his second start of 2018 and held off game runner-up Catholic Boy to win the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. He followed with a runner-up finish in the Grade 2 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby, which essentially cemented a spot for Flameaway in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve.

In his final Kentucky Derby prep, Flameaway took the early lead in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes and held onto the advantage into the stretch, where he was passed by champion Good Magic. Flameawy battled bravely to the finish line to take second in the $1 million Blue Grass and confirm his status as a legitimate contender for the run for the roses.

In the 144^th Kentucky Derby, Flameaway stalked the pace through the first mile but backed up exiting the far turn and finished 13^th.