Emotional Citation win for Frankel's Fluke

Report: USA, Friday

Hollywood Park: Citation Handicap (Grade 1) 1m½f, turf, 3yo+

AN OUTPOURING of emotion centered around the death of Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel was expected on Saturday when  Ventura contested the Matriarch Stakes, but it actually came 24 hours early when Brazilian import Fluke won the Citation at 9-1 under jockey Joe Talamo.

Talamo brought Fluke off the rail late in the straight, split horses and ran on to win by a length and a quarter fromformer claimer Ever A Friend.

Cowboy Cal was less than a length back third and aneck before Proudinsky, another horse formerly trained by Frankel.

"Bobby told me to get him ready," said Humberto Ascanio, assistant to Frankel for more than 30 years.

"Be positive. He is training good. He was right. My job was to  continue training. I'm just happy to win for him."

Fluke was a Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed in Brazil. Hehad won an allowance race at Belmont Park in his last start before the Citation.

Talamo added of the Citation victory: "This is very emotional for me. Bobby's the one who brought me out here (from Louisiana).  If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be here."

He added of Fluke: "He's a real nice horse and I think he's going to go on to do some big things."