Pistols And Roses Romps in Flamingo at Hialeah

Favorite Pistols And Roses dominated the $300,000 Flamingo Stakes Saturday at Hialeah Park, winning by 5 1/2 lengths in the first step toward this year’s Kentucky Derby.

Ridden by Herberto Castillo Jr., Pistols And Roses won for the fourth consecutive time, racing 1 1/8 miles 1:50 3/5. He paid $7.60, $5.60 and $2.60. Pick Up The Phone, a 27-1 shot, was second and Choctaw Ridge finished third.

Purchased for $25,000 in a private sale by owner Sheldon Willis, Pistols And Roses earned $9,200 when he won his debut as a 2-year-old colt at Calder Race Course on Sept. 21. Saturday’s $50,000 paycheck increased his earnings to $386,460.

Formal Dinner won the $86,250 Aqueduct Handicap through disqualification after finishing a half length behind the favorite, Shots Are Ringing.

Shots Are Ringing, ridden by Aqueduct newcomer Julio Pezua, was placed second after an inquiry determined that he had interfered with Formal Dinner, ridden by Angel Cordero, in the deep stretch. Island Edition finished third in the 1 1/16-mile race held on a sloppy track.

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Luramore defeated a field of eight 3-year-old fillies to take the $40,000 Marshua Stakes by 1 3/4 lengths at Laurel Race Course. Gala Prospector finished second with Anacreontic third in the six-furlong race. The winner covered the distance in 1:12 4/5 and paid $6 to win.