David Flores is looking forward to riding Miss Radiance in her first
stakes race Sunday, the Grade II La Canada Stakes at a mile and a
sixteenth.
Flores has ridden Miss Radiance in the last four starts of her
five-race career, winning only a maiden race last Oct. 16. But the
Tijuana native, who turns 44 on Feb. 5, is optimistic that the
4-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Yes It’s True trained by Mike Puype
will give a good account of herself in the La Canada.
“I love the distance for her,” said Flores, who was aboard last
out when Miss Radiance stumbled at the start of a one-mile race at Santa
Anita on Dec. 30 but still rallied to finish third in a field of eight.
“It looks like there’s going to be a good pace in the La Canada,”
continued Flores, who noted that the mishap at the start “cost her the
race right there. She lost five lengths, and she got beat just over
three.”
Flores, still going strong with just over 3,400 career wins in
his 28th year of riding, has enjoyed a solid run with Puype, in
particular aboard Santa Anita Oaks winner Turbulent Descent, recently
sidelined after finishing sixth as the 1-2 favorite in the Grade I La
Brea Stakes on Dec. 31.
“Mike is great,” said Flores, who is represented by agent Craig
O’Bryan. “He’s got great people working for him. It’s a great team and
I’m very happy working for him. If I keep riding good horses,” Flores
continued with a chuckle, “hopefully it will keep me going for another
10 years.”
The field for the La Canada, the eighth of nine races: May Day
Rose, Martin Garcia; Love Theway Youare, Alonso Quinonez; Big Tiz, Corey
Nakatani; Great Hot, Chantal Sutherland; Miss Radiance, David Flores;
Include Me Out, Joe Talamo; Capital Plan, Rafael Bejarano; and Tiz
Flirtatious, Joel Rosario.