FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Graham Ross
(847) 385-7558
Press Box Fax: (847) 870-6727
graham.ross@arlingtonpark.com
Barn Notes: Thursday, July 01, 2010
In Today’s Notes:
· Informed Decision Tries for Repeat in Sunday’s
· Just as Well Might Try for Two Straight in
·
INFORMED DECISION TRIES FOR REPEAT IN SUNDAY’S
The first two runnings of
That may change Sunday, when Augustin Stable’s Informed Decision, heroine of last fall’s Grade I Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, returns to defend her local title in last summer’s 20th renewal of the Grade III Chicago Handicap.
When entering the starting gate for last year’s Chicago Handicap, Informed Decision, conditioned by Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard, was coming off a win in Churchill’s Grade I Humana Distaff Handicap on Kentucky Derby Day earlier in the spring of 2009, and before that she had won Keeneland’s Grade I Madison Stakes in her first start of the year, but in her two 2010 starts since her Breeders’ Cup score – again in the Madison and the Humana Distaff this season – she has yet to reach the winner’s circle while posting a pair of thirds.
“She seems the same as usual,” said Sheppard Thursday morning, speaking from the
“It’s just human nature to tend to take things easily when you have a horse who has accomplished what she has,” said Sheppard, as always self-effacing in spite of his Hall of Fame induction two decades ago. “That might have been my complacency that got her beat. It just shows you can’t coast when you’re coming up to a Grade I race.
“That was a ‘useful’ work we gave her the other day,” said Sheppard, speaking of Informed Decision’s five-furlong bullet breeze in 59.40 at Presque Isle Tuesday morning. “I’d say it was a little more than a maintenance move because she’s very forward, very aggressive in her training.
-MORE-
Barn Notes
July 1, 2010
Page 2
“She’s still at Presque Isle,” concluded Sheppard of the 5-year old gray mare, a daughter of 2001 Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos with whom she shares her roan characteristics. “She’ll leave tomorrow and get to
JUST AS WELL MIGHT TRY FOR TWO STRAIGHT IN
The Grade III Arlington Handicap will observe its 75th running two weekends from now on July 17, and Jonathan Sheppard’s Just as Well might now be in a position to join Kerr Stable’s Round Table (1958-59) and Flying Zee Stable’s Cosmonaut (2006-07) as the third back-to-back winner of one of the local oval’s oldest stakes events.
Since the inaugural Arlington Million in 1981, the Arlington Handicap – also at a mile and a quarter over
Although no Arlington Handicap winner has repeated in the Million, Just as Well came close last summer – finishing as the runner-up in the Million after winning the 2009 Arlington Handicap.
“I think we might try the Arlington Handicap again,” said trainer Sheppard Thursday morning, speaking over the phone from
The Arlington Handicap is one of three graded stakes on July 17, which has been designated as
The third stakes slated for July 17 is the Grade II American Derby restricted to 3-year-olds and run at 1 3/16-miles on the turf. As
Barbara Hunter’s
-END-
This Churchill Downs Incorporated communication (including any attachments) is intended for the use of the intended recipient(s) only and may contain information that is confidential, privileged or legally protected. Any unauthorized use or dissemination of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please immediately notify the sender by return e-mail message and delete all copies of the original communication. Thank you for your cooperation.
