GUNFLASH PULLS OFF MINOR UPSET OF CAMPFIRE CREED IN REMINGTON PARK BLACK FRIDAY FEATURE

Campfire Creed got the best of Gunflash last month when they went one mile in allowance company, but Friday night at Remington Park, the tables turned when the 3-year-old rivals turned back to 6-1/2 furlongs.

Campfire Creed had beaten Gunflash on Oct. 26 by a full length, but when they hit the wire Friday, the sophomore son of Gun Runner had won, cruising away by five lengths under jockey Elvin Gonzalez for trainer Karl Broberg. Campfire Creed went off as the prohibitive 3-5 favorite, but Gunflash was also well bet at 8-5 odds.

Gunflash went to the lead out of the gate and Campfire Creed pushed him all the way down the backside until they hit the stretch together. That’s when Gunflash began to shake loose by two lengths. He stretched that to five at the end while Campfire Creed held sway in second, two lengths in front of third-place finisher Exxel (6-1). It Makes Sense (6-1) stumbled badly at the start and never really was a factor in fourth.

Gunflash is a 3-year-old colt out of the Political Force broodmare Flashy Campaign. He is owned by Jerry Namy of Ft. Worth, Texas. Namy pocketed $22,000 from the $35,690 allowance purse with the trip to the winner’s circle. Gunflash improved to 13 starts, four wins and one third for $127,396. He was bred in Kentucky by his owner.

The winner set all the interior fractions of :23.14 for the first quarter-mile, :46.52 for the half-mile and 1:11.09 for three quarters of a mile. His winning time for the 6-1/2 furlongs was 1:17.54 over the fast track. Gunflash is a half-brother to 2022 David M. Vance Stakes winner Flash of Mischief at Remington Park, who went on to finish ninth in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Gunflash is from the same dam. Flash of Mischief is by Into Mischief.

Gunflash, whose daddy Gun Runner was 2017 Horse of the Year nationally and earned almost $16 million, began his career at Remington Park, breaking his maiden at first asking as a 2-year-old on Nov. 11, 2022. He immediately went into the $400,000 Springboard Mile where he ran fourth to Wildatlanticstorm. Broberg shipped him to Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., and he twice raced against Optional $80,000 claiming non-winners-of-two lifetime races. He ran fourth and fifth in those two tries.

Subsequent wins came at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas, in consecutive starts. The first was a victory April 16 at 6 furlongs against Optional $50,000 claiming non-winners-of-two by 4-1/4 lengths. He was just as successful, stepping up to allowance non-winners-of-three races at the Texas track, clearing that bunch by three lengths at 6-1/2 furlongs on May 6. Friday night’s win was his first since May.

Gunflash has tried stakes company four times, running fourth in the Springboard and then three times trying the tougher set as a 3-year-old. On May 29, following his two easy wins at Lone Star, he was entered in the $300,000 Texas Derby at 1-1/16th miles and ran sixth, beaten 3-1/2 lengths. His next stakes try was the $175,000 Maxfield Stakes at Ellis Park in Kentucky over a sloppy track, going seven furlongs. The colt did not like the off going and faded badly to seventh, losing by 18 lengths. His last stakes effort came in the Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby at 1-1/8th miles where he finished ninth, beaten 7-3/4 lengths on Sept. 24 here.

Broberg said he believes Gunflash much prefers the sprinting. He proved that Friday night.

Remington Park continues racing Saturday, Nov. 25 with post time of 7:07p.m.-Central.

Remington Park has provided more than $337 Million to the State of Oklahoma general education fund since the opening of the casino in 2005. Located at the junction of Interstates 35 & 44, in the heart of the Oklahoma City Adventure District, Remington Park is home to the Springboard Mile, a Kentucky Derby points-qualifying race, on Friday, Dec. 15, 2023. Remington Park presents simulcast racing daily and non-stop casino gaming. Parking and admission are always free. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.

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