California Flag

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California Flag
SireAvenue of Flags
GrandsireSeattle Slew
DamUltrafleet
DamsireAfleet
SexGelding
FoaledFebruary 14, 2004
DiedJanuary 2026 (aged 22)
CountryUnited States
ColourGray
BreederHi Card Ranch
OwnerHi Card Ranch
TrainerBrian Koriner
Record27: 11-0-2
EarningsUS$1,288,825
Major wins
Morvich Handicap (2008, 2009, 2011)
Hollywood Turf Express Handicap (2008)
Green Flash Handicap (2009, 2010)
San Simeon Handicap (2012)
Breeders' Cup wins:
Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (2009)
Awards
Co-California Horse of the Year (2009)
Honours
California Flag Handicap
Last updated on 7 June 2026

California Flag was a thoroughbred racehorse foaled at Hi Card Ranch on February 19, 2004. He was sired by Avenue of Flags, a son of Seattle Slew, out of the Afleet (a son of Mr. Prospector) mare Ultrafleet.

He was best known for setting a new turf course record in 2008 in the Morvich Handicap and being the only horse to win this race three times: 2008, 2009 and 2011. On November 7, 2009, he got the most important win of his career beating Gotta Have Her in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. California Flag then went to Hong Kong where he finished fifth in the Hong Kong Sprint. He then traveled to Dubai to contest in the new Al Quoz Sprint and was third after just getting overtaken at the wire.

California Flag shared 2009 California Horse of the Year honors with Dancing in Silks.[1] In addition, the California Flag Handicap, a non-Listed Black type race for California-bred and sired horses named in California Flag's honor, is held every October at Santa Anita Park.[2]

Post-retirement, California Flag lived at Peacefield Farm in Temecula, California[3] until he passed away in January 2026 at the age of 22.[4] This was stated to be due to old age.

Racing form

Date Race Grade Distance Surface Track Odds Field Finish Winning
Time		 Margin Jockey Winner
(2nd Place)		 Ref.
2007 – Three-year-old season
Apr 15 Maiden Special Weight 6.5 furlongs Turf Santa Anita 5.90 12 5th 1:13.64 2+1⁄2 lengths Joseph Talamo Asteri [5]
May 6 Maiden Special Weight 6 furlongs Turf Hollywood Park 1.0 8 3rd 1:08.99 3 lengths Joseph Talamo Tenga Cat [6]
June 2 Maiden Special Weight 6 furlongs All Weather Hollywood Park 3.40 14 12th 1:10.87 10+1⁄2 lengths Victor Espinoza Johnny Eves [7]
2008 – Four-year-old season
Feb 11 Maiden Special Weight 1 mile Turf Santa Anita 17.90 11 1st 1:34.59 2 lengths Joseph Talamo (Kalookan Boss) [8]
Mar 28 Allowance 1 mile Turf Santa Anita 3.80 8 7th 1:34.28 11 lengths Martin Garcia Sassou [9]
Apr 27 Barretts Stakes 7 furlongs All Weather Hollywood Park 48.90 14 7th 1:21.88 2+3⁄4 lengths Joseph Talamo Bestdressed [10]
May 17 Allowance 6 furlongs All Weather Hollywood Park 7.80 11 10th 1:08.95 11 lengths Victor Espinoza Quick Enough [11]
Jul 2 Allowance 6 furlongs Turf Hollywood Park 5.70 7 1st 1:08.50 2 lengths Joseph Talamo (Partywithlarryz) [12]
Jul 24 Allowance 1 mile Turf Del Mar 3.20 10 6th 1:33.50 3+1⁄4 lengths Joseph Talamo Swift Winds [13]
Aug 8 Allowance Optional Claiming 5 furlongs Turf Del Mar 1.40 8 1st 0:55.98 Neck Joseph Talamo (Shadow of Illinois) [14]
Sep 24 Morvich Handicap G3 6.5 furlongs Turf Santa Anita 22.70 10 1st 1:11.10 3 lengths Joseph Talamo (Get Funky) [15]
Oct 25 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Listed 6.5 furlongs Turf Santa Anita 7.70 15 10th 1:11.60 9+1⁄2 lengths Joseph Talamo Desert Code [16]
Nov 29 Hollywood Turf Express Handicap G3 6 furlongs Turf Hollywood Park 1.70 7 1st 1:08.81 4+1⁄2 lengths Joseph Talamo (Racketeer) [17]
2009 – Five-year-old season
Aug 19 Green Flash Handicap Listed 5 furlongs Turf Del Mar 1.0 8 1st 0:55.22 Neck Joseph Talamo (Delta Storm) [18]
Sep 30 Morvich Handicap G3 6.5 furlongs Turf Santa Anita 1.60 10 1st 1:11.40 1 length Joseph Talamo (Get Funky) [19]
Nov 7 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Listed 6.5 furlongs Turf Santa Anita 3.40 14 1st 1:11.28 1+3⁄4 lengths Joseph Talamo (Gotta Have Her) [20]
Dec 13 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint G1 1200m Turf Sha Tin 11.0 14 5th 1:09.16 1+3⁄4 lengths Joseph Talamo Sacred Kingdom [21]
2010 – Six-year-old season
Mar 27 Al Quoz Sprint G3 1200m Turf Meydan 16 3rd 1:09.80 1 length Joseph Talamo Joy and Fun [22]
Aug 18 Green Flash Handicap Listed 5 furlongs Turf Del Mar 1.10 8 1st 0:55.58 Nose Mike Smith (Quick Enough) [23]
Oct 9 Woodford Stakes G3 5.5 furlongs Turf Keeneland 1.70 11 11th 1:02.30 7 lengths Joseph Talamo Silver Timber [24]
Nov 6 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint G2 5.5 furlongs Turf Churchill Downs 18.90 14 8th 0:56.53 4+3⁄4 lengths Victor Espinoza Chamberlain Bridge [25]
2011 – Seven-year-old season
Jul 3 Robert K. Kerlan Memorial Handicap Listed 6 furlongs Turf Hollywood Park 3.50 8 8th 1:08.81 13+1⁄2 lengths Tyler Baze Gallant Son [26]
Sep 7 Pirate's Bounty Stakes Listed 6 furlongs All Weather Del Mar 18.60 9 5th 1:08.84 2+1⁄4 lengths Pat Valenzuela Sterling Outlook [27]
Oct 10 Morvich Handicap G3 6.5 furlongs Turf Santa Anita 6.70 8 1st 1:11.91 1⁄2 lengths Pat Valenzuela (Excessive Passion) [28]
Nov 5 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint G2 6.5 furlongs Turf Churchill Downs 12.30 14 12th 0:56.48 11+1⁄4 lengths Pat Valenzuela Regally Ready [29]
2012 – Eight-year-old season
Apr 21 San Simeon Handicap G3 6.5 furlongs Turf Santa Anita 5.90 7 1st 1:11.59 2+1⁄4 lengths Joseph Talamo (Sayif) [30]
Nov 3 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint G1 6.5 furlongs Turf Santa Anita 5.90 14 13th 1:11.39 9+1⁄2 lengths Joseph Talamo Mizdirection [31]
* Conversion of race distances
Meters Miles Furlongs
1,006 0.63 5
1,106 0.69 5.5
1,207 0.75 6
1,308 0.81 6.5
1,408 0.88 7
1,609 1 8

Pedigree

Pedigree of California Flag (USA), gray or roan gelding, 2004[32]
Sire
Avenue of Flags (USA)
1988		 Seattle Slew (USA)
1974		 Bold Reasoning Boldnesian
Reason to Earn
My Charmer Poker
Fair Charmer
Beautiful Glass (USA)
1979		 Pass the Glass Buckpasser
Amerigo Lady
Beautiful Spirit Bold Bidder
Baby La
Dam
Ultrafleet (USA)
1992		 Afleet (CAN)
1984		 Mr. Prospector (USA) Raise a Native
Gold Digger
Polite Lady (USA) Venetian Jester
Friendly Ways
Social Conduct (USA)
1984		 Vigors Grey Dawn (FR)
Relifordie (FR)
Jostling Queen Knightly Manner
Day O. (Family 9-f)

References

  1. 2009 California Horse of the Year at the CTBA Archived 2010-11-01 at the Wayback Machine
  2. "Classy The Chosen Vron Heads Field Of 11 In Sunday's $100,000 California Flag Handicap". Santa Anita Park. 2022-10-13. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
  3. "Koriner Remembers Champion Cal-Bred California Flag". Past the Wire. 2022-10-10. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
  4. "Breeders' Cup Winner California Flag Dies At 22". Paulick Report. 2026-02-24. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
  5. "SANTA ANITA PARK - April 15, 2007 - Race 9 - Maiden Special Weight". Equibase. 2007-04-15. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
  6. "HOLLYWOOD PARK - May 6, 2007 - Race 4 - Maiden Special Weight". Equibase. 2007-05-06. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
  7. "HOLLYWOOD PARK - June 2, 2007 - Race 6 - Maiden Special Weight". Equibase. 2007-06-02. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
  8. "SANTA ANITA PARK - February 11, 2008 - Race 6 - Maiden Special Weight". Equibase. 2008-02-11. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
  9. "SANTA ANITA PARK - March 28, 2008 - Race 5 - Allowance". Equibase. 2008-03-28. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
  10. "HOLLYWOOD PARK - April 27, 2008 - Race 8 - Barretts Stakes". Equibase. 2008-04-27. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
  11. "HOLLYWOOD PARK - May 17, 2008 - Race 7 - Allowance". Equibase. 2008-05-17. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
  12. "HOLLYWOOD PARK - July 2, 2008 - Race 7 - Allowance". Equibase. 2008-06-02. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
  13. "DEL MAR - July 24, 2008 - Race 6 - Allowance". Equibase. 2008-07-24. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
  14. "DEL MAR - August 8, 2008 - Race 6 - Allowance Optional Claiming". Equibase. 2008-08-08. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
  15. "OAK TREE AT SANTA ANITA - September 24, 2008 - Race 8 - Morvich Handicap". Equibase. 2008-09-24. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
  16. "OAK TREE AT SANTA ANITA - October 25, 2008 - Race 2 - Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint". Equibase. 2008-10-25. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
  17. "HOLLYWOOD PARK - November 29, 2008 - Race 9 - Hollywood Turf Express Handicap". Equibase. 2008-11-29. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
  18. "DEL MAR - August 19, 2009 - Race 8 - Green Flash Handicap". Equibase. 2009-08-19. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
  19. "OAK TREE AT SANTA ANITA - September 30, 2009 - Race 8 - Morvich Handicap". Equibase. 2009-09-30. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
  20. "OAK TREE AT SANTA ANITA - November 7, 2009 - Race 3 - Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint". Equibase. 2009-11-07. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
  21. "THE CATHAY PACIFIC HONG KONG SPRINT - 13/12/2009 - Sha Tin". The Hong Kong Jockey Club. 2009-12-13. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
  22. "Al Quoz Sprint Sponsored By Emirates NBD - 27 Mar 2010 - Meydan". Emirates Racing. 2010-03-27. Retrieved 2026-06-07.
  23. "DEL MAR - August 18, 2010 - Race 6 - Green Flash Handicap". Equibase. 2010-08-18. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
  24. "KEENELAND - October 9, 2010 - Race 6 - Woodford Stakes". Equibase. 2010-10-09. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
  25. "CHURCHILL DOWNS - November 6, 2010 - Race 6 - Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint". Equibase. 2010-11-06. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
  26. "HOLLYWOOD PARK - July 3, 2011 - Race 8 - Robert K. Kerlan Memorial Handicap". Equibase. 2011-07-03. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
  27. "DEL MAR - September 7, 2011 - Race 6 - Pirate's Bounty Stakes". Equibase. 2011-09-07. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
  28. "SANTA ANITA PARK - October 10, 2011 - Race 8 - Morvich Handicap". Equibase. 2011-10-10. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
  29. "CHURCHILL DOWNS - November 5, 2011 - Race 6 - Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint". Equibase. 2011-11-05. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
  30. "SANTA ANITA PARK - April 21, 2012 - Race 5 - San Simeon Handicap". Equibase. 2012-04-21. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
  31. "SANTA ANITA PARK - November 3, 2012 - Race 7 - Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint". Equibase. 2012-11-03. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
  32. "California Flag pedigree". Equineline. Retrieved 2026-06-05.