Friday, July 25 2008
Arlington Park Barn Notes: Thursday, July 24
HOPE FLOATS FOR ‘ADMIRAL’ IN MILLION BASED ON IRISH RUN THURSDAY
Dr. Vincent O’Brien’s Lord Admiral, a European-based prospect for Chicago’s Grade I Arlington Million Aug. 9, gets a final tune-up Thursday in Ireland’s Group III Meld Stakes over the Leopardstown lawn at 10 furlongs.
Owned by the legendary former trainer who conditioned such champions as Nijinsky, Sir Ivor and Royal Academy, Lord Admiral finished second beaten two lengths in Leopardstown’s Group III Amethyst Stakes at one mile in his last trip to the post.
Thursday, July 24 2008
Arlington Park Barn Notes - Wednesday, July 23, 2008
ARLINGTON MILLION-BOUND SILVERFOOT GETS WEDNESDAY BREEZE
Chrysalis Stables’ Silverfoot, winner of Arlington Park’s Grade III Stars and Stripes Handicap July 4, breezed a half-mile over Arlington’s world famous turf course in :51 Wednesday morning in advance of a projected start in the Grade I Arlington Million Aug. 9.
“He’s always been a good work horse, and this morning he went exactly the way I wanted him to go,” said conditioner Leigh Bentley, who is handling the daily training chores in Chicago for Silverfoot’s Kentucky-based trainer Dallas Stewart.
Tuesday, July 22 2008
Road To The Million VII: Monday, July 21, 2008
CORAL-ECLIPSE HERO MOUNT NELSON JOINS ARLINGTON MILLION MIX; TWO EUROPEANS NOW LIKELY FOR BEVERLY D. – FOUR FOR SECRETARIAT
British-bred Mount Nelson, who ascended to the summit of Great Britain’s prestigious Group I Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park July 5, has now become the latest European-based superstar to join the list of probable starters for the upcoming Grade I Arlington Million Aug. 9.
The Coral-Eclipse, first run in the United Kingdom in 1886, is traditionally recognized as the initial race of the British Thoroughbred season in which Europe’s best sophomores encounter their older rivals. Legendary European champions that boast a Coral-Eclipse win on their résumés include such cracks as Mill Reef, Brigadier Gerard, Sadler’s Wells, Pebbles and Giant’s Causeway, but none of those ever crossed the ocean to grace an Arlington Million field.
Monday, July 21 2008
Arlington Park Barn Notes - Sunday, July 20, 2008
SUSPENSE BUILDS FOR SECRETARIAT STAKES FOLLOWING VIRGINIA DERBY
At least two – and possibly three – grass-favoring North American-based sophomores emerged from Saturday’s Grade II Virginia Derby in a position to challenge Arlington’s Grade II American Derby hero Tizdejavu in Arlington’s upcoming Grade I Secretariat Stakes Aug. 9.
Keep in mind that the Colonial Downs trio does not include at least two strong European-based 3-year-olds expected to cross the Atlantic to participate in the Secretariat, one of three Grade I races that will make up Arlington’s one-day International Festival of Racing on the second Saturday of August.
Wednesday, July 16 2008
Arlington Park Barn Notes: July 16
AMERICAN DERBY RUNNER-UP CONSIDERED FOR SECRETARIAT STAKES
Barry Golden and Peter Callahan’s Sr. Henry, who ran the best race of his career to be clearly second best in the Grade II American Derby July 12, is now under strong consideration for Arlington’s Grade I Secretariat Stakes Aug. 9 as the final leg of the Mid-America Triple.
“We’re going to be nominated,” said Sr. Henry’s trainer Mike Stidham Wednesday morning during training hours, “so we’re going to take a look at it and hopefully run in it.
“This horse has had some difficulties in his last four starts,” said Stidham. “Either traffic problems or pace problems. Saturday’s race (middle leg of the Triple) finally gave him a chance to show what he can do.”
Road To The Million VI: Wednesday, July 16, 2008
ARCHIPENKO ADDS TO ARLINGTON MILLION BILLING WITH WIN AT ASCOT; ARLINGTON ‘CAP HERO STREAM CAT POUNCES ON LIST OF THOSE POSSIBLE
With a courageous three quarter-length tally in Ascot’s Group II Summer Mile Stakes July 12, the globetrotting Archipenko, owned by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, now takes on the long-range favorite’s mantle for the upcoming Grade I Arlington Million less than four weeks away on Aug. 9.
The Arlington Million, along with the $750,000 Beverly D. and the $400,000 Secretariat Stakes, is one of three Grade I races that will make up Arlington’s International Festival of Racing on that second Saturday in August, and with Archipenko on track for this summer’s centerpiece event of Chicago’s Thoroughbred racing season, the international flavor of this Festival gets an appetizing additional garnish.
Monday, July 14 2008
Arlington Park Barn Notes: Sun. July 13
‘RUSTY’ RULES MILLION PREVIEW DAY WITH STREAM CAT, COMMUNIQUE
First, Stream Cat captured the Grade III Arlington Handicap in a tune-up for the Grade I Arlington Million, and then Communique captured the Grade III Modesty Handicap as the final local prep for Grade I Beverly D. to give conditioner George “Rusty” Arnold a training double during Chicago’s Million Preview Day on Saturday at Arlington Park.
Both Stream Cat, owned by Fab Oak Stable, Bobby Hurley and John Goldthorpe; and Communique, G. Watts Humphrey Jr.’s feminine color bearer; came out of their respective races in good order. So what’s next? Is the Arlington Million on the second Saturday in August on the radar for Stream Cat?
Saturday, July 12 2008
ARLINGTON HIGH-5 CARRYOVER $38,875 HEADING INTO SUNDAY’S CARD
With no correct tickets sold Saturday on Arlington Park’s High 5, there will be a carryover pool of $38,875 heading into Sunday’s 10-race card at the suburban Chicago racetrack.
The High-5 wager, new to Arlington for the 2008 meet, requires a bettor to correctly select the first five finishers in order in a designated race. The wager is a $1 minimum bet and will be offered on Sunday’s 10th race.
Sunday’s card gets underway at 1 p.m. Central time and post time for the 10th race is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Central.
TIZDEJAVU WIRES GRADE II AMERICAN DERBY
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (July 12, 2008) – Michael Cooper and Pamela Ziebarth’s Tizdejavu dashed away to an easy lead and never was threatened en route to a 2 ¼-length tally in the Grade II $250,000 American Derby at Arlington Park. The Greg Fox-trained son of two-time Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Tiznow ran the mile and three-sixteenths over soft turf in 1:59.88.
Rene Douglas was aboard the winner to notch his second graded stakes victory of the afternoon after taking the Grade III Modesty Handicap a half an hour earlier.
COMMUNIQUE RALLIES TO WIN GRADE III MODESTY HANDICAP
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (July 12, 2008) – G. Watts Humphrey Jr.’s Communique saved ground early, made a wide rally into the stretch and drew off to win the Grade III $150,000 Modesty Handicap by 3 ¾ lengths under jockey Rene Douglas. The daughter of Smart Strike covered the mile and three-sixteenths over soft turf in 1:58.89.
The win in the Modesty gave trainer George “Rusty” Arnold a graded stakes double on Arlington’s Million Preview Day card. Three races earlier the Kentucky-based trainer saddled Fab Oak Stable, Bobby Hurley & John Goldthorpe’s Stream Cat to win the Grade III Arlington Handicap.
STREAM CAT WINS ARLINGTON HANDICAP
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (July 12, 2008) – Fab Oak Stable, Bobby Hurley & John Goldthorpe’s Stream Cat saved ground while stalking the leader Cosmonaut, split horses in the stretch and put away Cosmonaut in the final furlong to win the Grade III $194,000 Arlington Handicap by 3 ¾ lengths on Saturday at Arlington Park. James Graham rode the “Rusty” Arnold trainee who covered the mile and a quarter over soft ground in 2:04.83.
The 5-year-old gelding, who finished fourth beaten only a length in last year’s Arlington Million, was coming off a nine-month layoff, but trainer George “Rusty” Arnold felt his horse was ready for the return.
Friday, July 11 2008
Arlington Park Barn Notes: July 11
‘I AM WOMAN, HEAR ME ROAR’ – INEZ KNOCKS OUT FOUR
Apprentice jockey Inez Karlsson made Arlington Park history Thursday – becoming the first female rider to ride four winners on a single program at Chicago’s premier oval.
“Everything’s starting to come together for me, now,” said Karlsson at the end of the afternoon. “I’m getting stronger every day, I’m getting a better sense of pace each time I go out there, and these guys here (other members of the Arlington jockey colony) are making me better, too. You make a mistake against these guys and they’ll get you everytime.
