by Mike Curry

California Flag set a blistering pace and powered to a record-setting three-length score at 22.70-to-1 odds on Wednesday in the $112,500 Morvich Handicap (G3), the feature race on opening day of the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita Park.

Making his graded stakes debut, California Flag broke alertly and went right to the lead as he had done in each of his three previous victories and was never seriously threatened in the stretch under Joe Talamo. California Flag completed 6 1/2 furlongs on the downhill turf course in 1:11.10, eclipsing the previous Oak Tree record of 1:11.46 set by El Cielo on November 3, 2001.

The four-year-old Avenue of Flags gelding also secured a starting spot in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint on October 25 at Santa Anita with the Morvich win as part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In" series.

“We had an absolutely perfect trip,” Talamo said. “[Trainer] Brian [Koriner] talked to me beforehand and we were glad Craig Dollase’s horse [Tropic Storm] scratched because we thought that would make it easier on us up front. As it turned out, Desert Code pushed us pretty good, but my horse was fresh and he ran great.”

Multiple Grade 3 winner Desert Code pressed the pace from second with One Union positioned in third as California Flag drilled the opening quarter in :21.11. Get Funky, the 9-to-5 favorite in the 11-horse field, was rated in fifth by jockey Jose Valdivia Jr.

California Flag opened a clear advantage through a half-mile in :42.53 and accelerated eagerly after he crossed the main track into the stretch to build an insurmountable three-length advantage.

"I just told Joe [Talamo], ‘I won’t be disappointed if you hit the dirt and you’re five [lengths] in front,' " Koriner said. "We’ll pay the entry fee and go in the Breeders’ Cup.”

Get Funky finished a head in front of third-place finisher One Union, who edged Grade 2 winner Rebellion (GB) by a half-length.

California Flag entered the Morvich off a front-running score in a five-furlong allowance/optional claiming race on August 8 at Del Mar. Out of the Afleet mare Ultrafleet, California Flag is a full brother to multiple graded stakes winner Cambiocorsa, who won eight of ten career starts on the downhill turf course. He improved to four wins in 11 starts and boosted his earnings to $193,216.

For an Equibase chart, click here.

Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor