Flat Out drives to victory in Suburban Handicap

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Elmont, NY (Sports Network) - Even-money favorite Flat Out took the lead on the final turn and drove to victory at Belmont Park in Saturday's $350,000 Suburban Handicap. It was the fifth win at Belmont in six starts for Flat Out.

Trained by Bill Mott for Preston Stables, Flat Out pressed the pace being set by Percussion in the 1 1/8-mile stakes. Ridden by Junior Alvarado, the 7-year- old edged past Percussion on the final turn and then opened up through the stretch.

Flat Out cruised to a 2 1/2-length win over 7-5 second pick Last Gunfighter. Finishing third was 24-1 longshot Fast Falcon followed by Alpha and Percussion.

"He was pretty much the best horse in the race," said Alvarado. "I wanted to break and put him in a good spot, clear on the outside. The pace wasn't too fast. The last two races they had been going :44, so he was a little sharp going :47. He was great. Turning for home, I asked him, and he gave it all to me."

The time for the Suburban Handicap was 1:46.87 on a fast track.

Flat Out increased his bankroll by $210,000 as he notched his second victory in the race. The 7-year-old recorded his eighth lifetime win in 25 starts and $2,945,383.

Saturday's win was his second this year at Belmont. He captured the Westchester Handicap on April 27 before finishing third on Memorial Day in the Met Mile.

"This obviously was an easier race than the last two," said Mott. "He ran hard today, but he ran real hard to win (the Westchester) and then he got jostled around a little bit in the Met Mile, which may have cost him something. It's nice to see him bounce back. I figured when he went by that horse on the lead, he was going to be tough to beat from there."

Flat Out won the 2011 Suburban and won the last two editions of the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park. After closing 2012 with a third in the Breeders' Cup Classic the horse was fourth in the Donn Handicap and fifth in the New Orleans Handicap.

Flat Out returned $4.00, $2.30 and $2.10. Last Gunfighter paid $2.60 and $2.20, and Fast Falcon paid $3.50 to show.