Fluke registered the second grade I win of his career when he outfought favored Caracortado by a head in an exciting finish to the $300,000 Frank E. Kilroe Mile (gr. IT) on the Santa Anita turf March 5.
Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, the stalking Fluke found a hole at the rail near midstretch and opened up a lead, then held off Caracortado, the 6-5 favorite in the field of 10. Caracortado, next to last leaving the far turn, split rivals through the lane to challenge on the far outside and just missed. Jeranimo finished third. The final time was 1:33.50 over a firm turf.
Humberto Ascanio trains Fluke, a 6-year-old Brazilian-bred son of Wild Event owned by Patricia Bozano. Fluke ended a 46-race losing streak for Ascanio when he captured the one-mile Thunder Road Handicap (gr. IIIT) Feb. 5. Formerly trained by Bobby Frankel, Fluke won the Citation Handicap (gr. IT) at Hollywood Park in November 2009, just days after the Hall of Fame conditioner died of Lymphoma.
“You couldn’t have a better trip than that," Ascanio said. "He saved all the ground. If he went outside, I don’t know what would have happened."
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