Where are the major stakes
winners of Arlington’s
2011 season going after the local session brings down the curtain Sunday?
At first glance their futures appear quite rosy with the possibilities of
further glory well within their reach.
Cape Blanco,
the Irish-bred 4-year-old owned by Mrs. Fitriani Hay, Derrick Smith, Mrs.
John Magnier and Michael Tabor, is scheduled for a third transatlantic journey
from his home base on the Emerald Isle to contest the Grade I Joe Hirsch Turf
Classic Invitational on Oct. 1 at Belmont
Park.
Castleton Lyons’ Gio Ponti,
hero of the 2009 Arlington Million and runner-up the last two summers, is
slated to contest the Grade I Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland on Oct. 8.
Martin Schwartz’s Stacelita,
the 5-year-old French-bred mare who was heroine of this summer’s Grade I
Beverly D. Stakes, is expected to go in the Grade I Flower Bowl Invitational at
Belmont on
Oct. 1.
Jerry Namy’s Shared Property,
Chuck and Maribeth Sandford LLC and Secure Investments’ Take Charge Lady and
Lantern Hill Farm’s Motor City, first, second and third respectively in the
Grade III Arlington-Washington Futurity Sept. 10, are all likely for a rematch
in Keeneland’s Grade I Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity Oct. 8.
Frank Fletcher’s Rocket
Twentyone, heroine of the Grade III Arlington-Washington Lassie, is likely to
go to Keeneland for the Grade I Darley Alcibiades Oct. 7, while Richard Ravin’s
Essence of Bubbles, runner-up in the Lassie, will head to Delta Downs with a
long-range goal of the Grade III Delta Princess Stakes in mid-November.
All In Stable’s Willcox Inn,
winner of the Grade II American Derby but fourth in the Grade I Secretariat,
was scheduled to ship to Delaware Park for the Grade III Kent Stakes this
Saturday but is quite likely to not make the trip due to inclement weather on
the East Coast, according to trainer Mike Stidham on Thursday morning.
Lothenbach Stables’ Mister
Marti Gras, who won the Grade III Washington Park Handicap on Labor Day weekend
here, is now scheduled to run in the Grade II Hawthorne Gold Cup Oct. 8.
Frank Mancari’s Free Fighter,
hero of the Grade III Stars and Stripes Handicap, has been turned out until
April and is currently eating grass in the appropriately-named Custer
Park, according to
trainer Michael Reavis.
Lastly, Glen Hill Farm’s
Marketing Mix, heroine of the Grade III Pucker Up as the final stakes of Arlington’s
2011 season last weekend, will likely make her next start in the Grade I Queen
Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland on Oct. 15.
Green Lantern Stable’s Sea
Level Drive, who finished second in the Pucker Up,
might be considered for the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup if an invitation
was offered.
SEASON-HIGH PLACE, SHOW PRICES SET IN SEPTEMBER
The highest win price of Arlington
Park’s 2011 season which
has only four racing days left was established three months ago, but season-high
place and show wagers were both recorded earlier this month.
Michael and Shannan Meehan and
Byington Stables’ In All Directions lit up the tote board with a $155.20
straight payoff based on a $2 wager on June 23, but the highest place payoff
was recorded one week ago on Sept. 15 when Antonio Merez’s Pocanella paid
$57.40.
The highest show payoff of the
summer so far was recorded two weeks ago on Sept. 9 when Tracy Marshall’s Mona
Mona returned $38.20 for finishing third.
JOY SPINDLER SHOWING GRANDMOTHER’S GLOW
Last week’s announcement that
jockey Florent Geroux had become a father for the first time had other Arlington
implications. That’s because the baby girl’s grandmother is Arlington’s
assistant director of mutuels Joy Spindler.
Olivia Mathilde Geroux was
born to Geroux and Spindler’s daughter Kasey on Sept. 15 weighing 5 lbs. 12 oz.
and was measured at 19 inches.
Geroux won his first race with
his new status of fatherhood Saturday aboard Butterfly Stables’ David D for
trainer Dave Kassen.
REMINDER: POST TIME FRIDAY 1 P.M.
Arlington Park
guests and fan of Arlington’s
simulcast signal are reminded that Friday’s post time is 1
p.m.