Flora Dora rallies for Busanda win

Jan 31, 2016 Jennifer Caldwell/Brisnet.com

Coffeepot Stables’ Flora Dora tracked behind the leaders in Sunday’s $100,000 Busanda S. at Aqueduct before rallying in the stretch to score a one-length victory under jockey Jose Oritz.

Trained by Marialice Coffey, the chestnut daughter of First Dude saved ground on the inside as Lost Raven led the way up front. Scatoosh engaged the front runner rounding the turn and took over in the lane, but couldn’t withstand Flora Dora’s late rally.

The winner finished a mile and 70 yards on Aqueduct’s fast inner dirt in 1:45.50 to earn 10 points toward a starting berth in the May 6 Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs. The Busanda is part of the Road to the Kentucky Oaks series of points races and awarded 10-4-2-1 points to the top four finishers.

Scatoosh finished second by 2 1/4 lengths to debut on the Oaks leaderboard with four points, while Lost Raven also made her first appearance on the leaderboard with two points. Dreams to Reality took fourth another eight lengths behind and earned one point.

Coffey indicated after the race that Flora Dora would continue on the Oaks trail and is likely for the $125,000 Busher S. going 1 1/16 miles at Aqueduct on February 27.

Flora Dora previously captured the My Dear Girl division of the Florida Sire S. series, followed by a second in the Tempted S. (G3) and a fourth in the Demoiselle S. (G2) to close out her juvenile campaign. This winning sophomore bow improved her career line to 5-2-1-0 and she’s banked $415,332 lifetime.

BUSANDA QUOTES

Jose Ortiz (rider, Flora Dora): 'She was very kind. She listened really well. When I was getting a position in the first turn, she helped me out and she relaxed really well. When I asked her to go at the three-eighths pole, I had to whip her a few times, she's a little lazy. Once I got her going, she was there for me. She has a really good stride and I think she can go a little longer too.'

Marialice Coffey (trainer, Flora Dora): 'She's always been a very patient filly and she closes very well. I feel that she also has technical speed and that she can put herself in the mix and today she did.

“I think added distance in the future will help her. The longer the better, we're absolutely targeting the longer distances. She's easy to train, she's easy on herself, and very professional. From the time we started her as a two-year-old at Saratoga she never got nervous about anything she just does everything we ask her to do.'