FLUTE MAKES MUSIC
Juddmonte Farms’ Flute (3, b. f. Seattle Slew/Rougeur by
Blushing Groom) won the Gr.1 Kentucky Oaks on May 4th. Flute, a
homebred for Juddmonte Farms, was the 3-1 second favorite in the
race. She settled off the pace early and started to move at the far
turn. She took command in early stretch and won by 2 ¾ lengths in
1:48.85 for the 1 1/8 miles, only .05 seconds off the stakes
record. Trainer Bobby Frankel had this to say about Jerry Bailey’s
ride, “I was impressed with her, … and coming to the stretch, she
whipped around them like they were standing still …like they were
tied to the quarter pole.” Frankel said the victory was
particularly rewarding because of his confidence in the filly. “She
ran an awesome race today. It is so rewarding to win for Juddmonte.
They changed my whole career. They put me in the Hall of Fame.” The
Oaks winner has since won her Saratoga prep for the Alabama S.,
Gr1.
Flute’s dam, Rougeur, is also a Juddmonte Farms’ homebred. By
Blushing Groom out of Epsom Oaks runner-up Media Luna, Rougeur won
the Gaily Gaily Handicap at Gulfstream Park and placed in Gr.2
Orchid Handicap and the Gr.3 Yerba Buena Handicap. Rougeur has also
produced the stakes winner Velvet Morning (a 4YO filly by Broad
Brush) for Juddmonte.
Date:
09 May 2001