Flakes held off a late challenge from Charlie’s Wish to win the $75,000 Game Face Stakes by a determined neck at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, 17 June.
It was the first Stakes victory for the rapidly improving three-year-old daughter of Frosted, who improved her record to 3-1-1 in six career starts.
After breaking somewhat awkwardly out of the gate, Flakes was rated just off the frontrunning pair of Queen Karima and It Takes Heart in third through the early stages of the 6 ½-furlong contest. Flakes began closing on the leaders on the far turn, then took the lead at the quarter pole. Kicking clear in upper stretch, Flakes had plenty left to fend off the late rally from Charlie’s Wish to post the victory.
Bred in Florida by Arindel, Flakes is out of the mare Tell a Great Story (Bluegrass Cat), winner of the Listed Go For Wand Stakes and third in the G2 Delaware Oaks. Flakes is one of four winners produced from Tell a Great Story, who is also the dam of Graded Stakes-placed Lady Flatter. Tell a Great Story is a half-sister to the Stakes-placed runners Southampton Way (2nd G2 Adirondack), Youngest of Five and All I Karabout.
In addition to Flakes, Frosted is also the sire of 2023 Stakes winners Frost Point (G3 Doubledogdare Stakes), Ice Dancing (G3 Santa Ynez), Late Frost (New Start Stakes) and Arctic Arrogance, runner-up in both the G3 Withers and Listed Jerome Stakes.
