Saturday, May 22, 2010

Arlington Park Stakes Recap: American 1000 Guineas and Arlington Classic

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: David Zenner

 (847) 385-7535

Cell (847) 371-1670

Fax: (847) 385-7251

Dzenner@arlingtonpark.com

 

 

JOCKEY ROBBY ALBARADO SWEEPS TURF STAKES AT ARLINGTON

 

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (May 22, 2010) – Jockey Robby Albarado made the most of his foray to Arlington Park by capturing both of Saturday’s stakes races at his old Chicago stomping grounds.  The now Kentucky-based rider took the $200,000 American 1000 Guineas with Bay to Bay and the $100,000 Arlington Classic astride Workin for Hops.

 

            “I was well mounted and was a good passenger in both races,” he said.

 

            Robert Smithen’s Bay to Bay overtook the pacesetting Go Ask Alex at the sixteenth pole and drew clear to post a 2 ½-length victory in the $200,000 American 1000 Guineas.  The daughter of Sligo Bay covered the mile over a turf course officially listed as “soft” in 1:39.24.

 

“This is a very nice filly,” Albarado said.  “She broke alertly and at every point, she let me know she was in my hands.”

 

            The Brian Lynch-trained filly picked up her second graded stakes victory in just six starts.  Last fall, the Canadian-based miss captured the Grade III Natalma at Woodbine Race Course near Toronto.  She earned $116,400 here to push her career bankroll to $297,578.

 

            Go Ask Alex set a moderate pace of 24.88 seconds for the opening quarter, 49.09 second for the half and a three-quarter mile split of 1:14.18 before being passed by the eventual victress.  Her rider Chris Emigh was pleased with her performance.

 

            “I was counting my money turning for home,” Emigh said.  “I had a lot of horse. I had the pace my own way.  My horse ran a winning race but the winner just went by me.  She tried hard but she couldn’t quite keep up at the end.”

 

            Queen of the Creek was third in the eight-horse field, followed by Orchestrator, Chantilly Nayla, Kilmore Quay, Besitos and Lucky Lass to complete the order of finish.

 

            Bay to Bay, the second choice in the wagering, paid $5.40, $3.60 and $2.60.  Go Ask Alex returned $6.40 and $3.40.  Queen of the Creek paid $2.40.

 

            Barely a half an hour later, Albarado was back in the winner’s circle after wiring the Arlington Classic on Estrorace LLC’s Workin for Hops.  The Mike Stidham-trained son of City Zip covered the mile and a sixteenth over soft turf in 1:45.43 after fractions of 24.63 seconds, 49.14 seconds, 1:14.67 and 1:39.17.

 

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Albarado Sweeps Arlington Turf Stakes

May 22, 2010

Page 2

 

“I looked at the form and it looked like it might be easy fractions so circumstances dictated I go on with him and it worked out,” Albarado said.

 

            The Arlington Classic was the second stakes win of the year for Workin for Hops who also captured the $60,000 Grindstone Stakes at the Fair Grounds in March.  He added $58,200 to his bankroll, which now stands at $142,976 while improving his overall record to four wins from six starts.

 

            Alfarabi rallied from mid pack to get up for the place spot and it was another length and a half back to Gleam of Hope.

 

            “Settled good; ran good; finished good; firmer ground, different race,” said a very matter-of-fact James Graham, who rode the runner up.

 

            Workin for Hope paid $5.40, $3.60 and $3.  Alfarabi returned $6.60 and $2.40.  Gleam of Hope paid $4.60.

 

            Mister Marti Gras, Our Champion, Family Foundation, Indy Scent and Summer Movie completed the order of finish.

 

Arlington Park – the Chicago area’s premier Thoroughbred racetrack located in Arlington Heights, Ill. – will run a 91-day meet in 2010 from Thursday, April 29 through Sunday, Sept. 26. Arlington Park, whose parent company is Churchill Downs Incorporated (Nasdaq: CHDN), also operates 10 off-track, simulcast-wagering facilities – Trackside Arlington Park (Arlington Heights), Trackside Chicago, Trackside Quad City Downs (East Moline), Trackside Waukegan, Shooters Bar & Grill at Don Carter Lanes featuring Trackside Rockford, Fat Sam’s Bar & Grill featuring Trackside OTB in Lockport, Lucky’s featuring Trackside OTB in South Elgin, Nicolino’s featuring Trackside OTB in McHenry, Tad’s Sports Bar & Grill featuring Trackside OTB in South Beloit and Salerno-Pincente Ristorante featuring Trackside OTB in Hodgkins.  Information on Arlington Park can be found online at www.arlingtonpark.com.

 

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