Today's $400,000 Washington Park Handicap is the richest race of the summer meet on the main track at Arlington Park.
The 1 3/16-mile race (the ninth on the program), for 3-year-olds and up, has a field of five. Three of the horses are graded stakes winners, including morning-line favorite Perfect Drift (6-5), an upset winner over Mineshaft in last month's Grade I Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs.
Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day rides Perfect Drift for trainer Murray Johnson.
Iron Deputy (2-1) surprised Grade I winners Volponi, Evening Attire and Harlan's Holiday in last month's Grade II Brooklyn Handicap at Belmont Park. Jockey Richard Migliore is up on Iron Deputy for trainer James Jerkens.
Flatter (3-1) makes his stakes debut today after four straight scores. The 4-year-old son of A.P. Indy missed much of last year with an injury. Craig Perret gets the ride.
Stronach Stables ships Phantom Light (5-1) in from Ontario, Canada, where he won two Grade III races at Woodbine. Rene Douglas gets the ride.
Rounding out the field is Aeneas (12-1), who has come up short in two previous graded stakes this year.
Two other events stand out on today's 10-race card.
The $50,000 Top Corsage Stakes (race No. 4) is a 1-mile test for 3-year-old fillies on the main track. The field of six is led by Souris (7-5), with Douglas riding. Keeping The Gold (5-2), who won the Illinois-bred Purple Violet Stakes, opens from the rail. Day rides Shot Gun Favorite (3-1).
Race 6 is a $45,000 overnight handicap turf sprint of 5 furlongs for older horses. The field of nine is topped early by Skeet (2-1) with Douglas riding; Sand Ridge (5-2), with Day up; and Mighty Beau (4-1), with Hall of Famer Earlie Fires aboard.
American Derby at Arlington
Sunday's featured race at Arlington is the $250,000 Grade II American Derby. It will be the 89th running of the track's oldest stakes event.
The 1 3/16-mile race is the second leg of Arlington's Mid-America Triple for 3-year-old turf horses. The top three finishers in last month's Arlington Classic — Lismore Knight, Remind and Good Day Too — will not be running.
Horses to watch include Californian (2-1), a British-bred colt with Kent Desormeaux riding; Irish-bred Evolving Tactics (5-2); Rapid Proof (3-1); and Scottago (4-1).
Am-Nat at Balmoral
Tonight's 12-race card at Balmoral Park includes three $28,000 American-National eliminations for 3-year-old colt pacers, a $22,500 Free For All Pace and the $125,000 AmNat Final pace, for 2-year-old colts and geldings.
The first of three AmNat eliminations goes off in the second race, with the field including Preslash (3-1), Wolfdancer Mindale (7-2), Art's Chip (4-1) and Big Money Man (9-2).
The fourth race is the second elimination, featuring Armbro Animate (6-5), Dr. Drew (3-1) and Odds On Dana (9-2).
North America Cup winner Yankee Cruiser (6-5) is the leader of the pack in the third elimination (race No. 7). Last-Call-Crombie (4-1) and Execujet (5-1) should challenge for a spot in next Saturday's $285,000 AmNat final.
The 2-year-old AmNat final is the fifth race. The field of 10 is led by dual entry Deseeker (2-1), who has won two straight, and Backwater (2-1). Others to watch are Droppin'thehammer (4-1) and Peyote (3-1). Quik Pulse Mindale was the early favorite but was scratched (undisclosed illness).
The Free For All (10th race) includes Foxy Maneuver (3-1), Alexanderthegreat (4-1), Big Green Machine (9-2) and Universal Dream (5-1).
http://www.dailysouthtown.com/southtown/dssports/pro/193sd1.htm
The 1 3/16-mile race (the ninth on the program), for 3-year-olds and up, has a field of five. Three of the horses are graded stakes winners, including morning-line favorite Perfect Drift (6-5), an upset winner over Mineshaft in last month's Grade I Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs.
Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day rides Perfect Drift for trainer Murray Johnson.
Iron Deputy (2-1) surprised Grade I winners Volponi, Evening Attire and Harlan's Holiday in last month's Grade II Brooklyn Handicap at Belmont Park. Jockey Richard Migliore is up on Iron Deputy for trainer James Jerkens.
Flatter (3-1) makes his stakes debut today after four straight scores. The 4-year-old son of A.P. Indy missed much of last year with an injury. Craig Perret gets the ride.
Stronach Stables ships Phantom Light (5-1) in from Ontario, Canada, where he won two Grade III races at Woodbine. Rene Douglas gets the ride.
Rounding out the field is Aeneas (12-1), who has come up short in two previous graded stakes this year.
Two other events stand out on today's 10-race card.
The $50,000 Top Corsage Stakes (race No. 4) is a 1-mile test for 3-year-old fillies on the main track. The field of six is led by Souris (7-5), with Douglas riding. Keeping The Gold (5-2), who won the Illinois-bred Purple Violet Stakes, opens from the rail. Day rides Shot Gun Favorite (3-1).
Race 6 is a $45,000 overnight handicap turf sprint of 5 furlongs for older horses. The field of nine is topped early by Skeet (2-1) with Douglas riding; Sand Ridge (5-2), with Day up; and Mighty Beau (4-1), with Hall of Famer Earlie Fires aboard.
American Derby at Arlington
Sunday's featured race at Arlington is the $250,000 Grade II American Derby. It will be the 89th running of the track's oldest stakes event.
The 1 3/16-mile race is the second leg of Arlington's Mid-America Triple for 3-year-old turf horses. The top three finishers in last month's Arlington Classic — Lismore Knight, Remind and Good Day Too — will not be running.
Horses to watch include Californian (2-1), a British-bred colt with Kent Desormeaux riding; Irish-bred Evolving Tactics (5-2); Rapid Proof (3-1); and Scottago (4-1).
Am-Nat at Balmoral
Tonight's 12-race card at Balmoral Park includes three $28,000 American-National eliminations for 3-year-old colt pacers, a $22,500 Free For All Pace and the $125,000 AmNat Final pace, for 2-year-old colts and geldings.
The first of three AmNat eliminations goes off in the second race, with the field including Preslash (3-1), Wolfdancer Mindale (7-2), Art's Chip (4-1) and Big Money Man (9-2).
The fourth race is the second elimination, featuring Armbro Animate (6-5), Dr. Drew (3-1) and Odds On Dana (9-2).
North America Cup winner Yankee Cruiser (6-5) is the leader of the pack in the third elimination (race No. 7). Last-Call-Crombie (4-1) and Execujet (5-1) should challenge for a spot in next Saturday's $285,000 AmNat final.
The 2-year-old AmNat final is the fifth race. The field of 10 is led by dual entry Deseeker (2-1), who has won two straight, and Backwater (2-1). Others to watch are Droppin'thehammer (4-1) and Peyote (3-1). Quik Pulse Mindale was the early favorite but was scratched (undisclosed illness).
The Free For All (10th race) includes Foxy Maneuver (3-1), Alexanderthegreat (4-1), Big Green Machine (9-2) and Universal Dream (5-1).
http://www.dailysouthtown.com/southtown/dssports/pro/193sd1.htm
