Flat Out 3YOs tally a trio of Sunday maiden wins

Westerdale breaks his maiden by 15 lengths at Aqueduct – Coglianese photo

Westerdale and Nothins Free, both 3-year-old sons of Flat Out, broke their maidens at Aqueduct and Gulfstream Park, respectively, on Feb. 25, while the filly Special Blessing scored her first win at Fair Grounds, giving Flat Out three winners in a single day

The trio upped Flat Out’s 2018 winners’ total to 12, the most for any Second-Crop Sire standing in North America this year. Flat Out’s largest crop to date are 2-year-olds of 2018 and soon to be seen on the racetrack as Spring approaches.

Westerdale was the star of the day with one of the most impressive 3-year-old displays of the year. After finishing third in a pair of starts last autumn, Westerdale put it all together on Sunday, rolling home by nearly 15 lengths. Under slight pressure early, Westerdale began to pull away on the turn and was all alone in the stretch as he completed the mile in 1:38.58 on a very sloppy track.

Westerdale, a $150,000 yearling purchase, is owned by his trainer Tom Morley, along with several partners. He was bred in Kentucky by William Graves and Dennis Lynch.

Nothins Free made short work of his eight foes as well, winning the six-furlong affair by 3 1/4-lengths in front-running style while never being seriously threatened at any point. Nothins Free is owned by Imaginary Stables and was bred by Blitchton Breeding LLC. His dam For Free is a half-sister to multiple graded stakes winner Beau’s Town.

Special Blessing, a 3-year-old filly, won by the same margin as Nothins Free in her 1 mile and 70 yard victory over a sloppy Fair Grounds surface. The winner is owned by Coteau Grove Farms and bred by J. Adcock. She was a $110,000 auction buy as a 2-year-old.