(Pataky Kid! Drawing by Mel of Daily Racing Funnies!)
The first of the two races featured the boys (and one filly)
taking to the one-turn mile on the all-weather surface. It was a perfect day
(weather-wise) in Chicago and the racing did not disappoint. Garrett Gomez comes
to Chicago for Tom Proctor and wins the Arlington-Washington Futurity on board
Pataky Kid. Gomez had “the kid” just behind the first flight of leaders,
saving ground near the rail. Around the turn and into the stretch, he split
between horses at the top of the lane and was only a half-length behind post
time and morning line favorite Muppet Man. Then down the stretch be passed by
Muppet Man at the 1/8 pole and never looked back, scoring victory by 3 lengths
as the 5/2 second choice. Gomez
commented after the race, “He traveled well the whole way. He was ready for me
to tell him when to go throughout the whole race. It was just a matter of
finding a little seam turning for home. He did so willingly. He made the lead
and I got into him a couple of times. The second time I got into him he didn’t
like it too much and he let me know. He ducked out a little bit but I got him
straightened out and he continued on his way.”
(Pataky Kid - photo courtesy of Four Footed Fotos)
I really thought Muppet Man was the best on paper. He led
for almost the entire race but perhaps jockey
Jeffrey Sanchez rode him a bit
too quick (:23, :46, 1:11). Pataky Kid’s victory wasn’t all that much of a
surprise though as most of us, I’m sure, thought the race would come down to one
of these two runners. Gomez also wouldn’t come here to Chicago without a
reason.
To watch a replay of the Arlington-Washington Futurity,
CLICK
HERE.
(Gold Edge by Mel Leonard!)
The second of the two races turned to the girls where 10/1-priced
Gold Edge and local favorite jockey Chris Emigh had to run down 36/1 shot La
Song to win the Arlington-Washington Lassie by a neck! Emigh said of his ride
on Gold Edge, “I wasn’t sure we were going to get there until the last couple
of jumps. She’s been training so good. I knew she might get beat but they were
really going to have to run to beat her. She’s been training awesome and she
tries her heart out.” Gold Edge actually was in the lead ¼ mile into the race. Emigh
settled her back to track behind La Song. Gold Edge was brought outside of the
leader starting down the stretch and needed every bit of the stretch to just
beat the pace-setter.
(Gold Edge and Chris Emigh - photo courtesy of Four Footed Fotos)
It was a great finish to a race that had endless possibilities
of wagering opportunities. Interestingly, Larry Jones’ Dancinginthecircle just
missed second by a nose, though I swear on the replay it looked like she had
it. Wayne Catalano’s Flying Rapunzel went off as the 3/1 favorite but just didn’t
fire today. I just thought it would have been a tough race to win from the 11
post. The win bet on Gold Edge was enough for dinner for my lovely wife and me
though! Seems like others made out well too as the exacta paid $777, the
trifecta paid $2,097, and the superfecta paid $5,335! WOW! You gotta love those
overflow fields! Finally in a very scary moment, You Bought Her fell to the
ground after clipping heels with American Sugar. You Bought Her left the race
track under her own power and appeared to be fine. Jockey Julio Felix was taken
to a local hospital for X-rays. I hope he is OK!
To watch a replay of the Arlington-Washington Futurity,
CLICK HERE.
We have one more graded stakes race left in the Arlington
meet. Next weekend will be the Pucker Up Stakes which features three year old
fillies going 9 furlongs on the turf!
In other HRN news…
- Wishing We Could All Own a Mare...
- Remembering Benburb
- Top 250 All-Time Thoroughbreds
- Getting Ready for the 2012 Breeders' Cup
- Win Real Money at Derby Wars!
Finally, last year our great sport of horse racing lost a good friend and a great fan. Courtesy of the production talents of Horseplayer Now and talents of Joe Kristufek and Dave Zenner, this amazing video was created as part of the first annual Arlington race dedicated to Tim "Tiznow" Reynolds: a man who left us way too soon. RIP my friend.