Woodbine roundup: Flag Of Honour unfurls in Jacques Cartier

Flag Of
Honour took all the spoils in the Grade 3, US$89,937 Jacques Cartier Stakes, a
six-furlong race for older horses Saturday on the all-weather track at
Woodbine.

Trained by
Julia Carey, the 5-year-old son of American Pharoah out of Godiva Rock broke
alertly under Kazushi Kimura and then seized the lead a few strides before the
opening quarter reached in 23.37 seconds.

Still on
top through a half-mile in 45.90 seconds, Flag Of Honour was engaged by Step
Forward into the turn for home but was able to repel the spirited challenge
from the son of Speightstown. Midway down the lane the gelding began to speed
away from his rivals en route to a 1 1/4-length score in a time of 1:09.79.

Old
Chestnut rallied to finish second, three-quarters of a length in front of
Ironstone. Step Forward was a head back for fourth spot.

It was the
fifth career victory to go along with a second and a third from 10 starts for
Flag Of Honour, who earned his second graded-stakes triumph. Last year the bay
eked out a gutsy, nose score in the Kennedy Road (G2).

Bred by Mr.
G. Harvey and owned by R.M. Wanless and J.M. Wanless, Flag Of Honour arrived at
the Jacques Cartier off a runner-up effort in the Thorncliffe Stakes, run at 5 1/2 furlongs over the Woodbine synthetic, on May 5. Sent off as the 9-5 choice,
he paid $5.60 for Saturday’s win.