Arlington Million & International Festival Barn Notes: Sunday, August 15

                       

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Graham Ross

(847) 385-7558

Press Box Fax: (847) 870-6727
graham.ross@arlingtonpark.com

Barn Notes: Sunday, August 15, 2010                                                                                    

 

In Today’s Notes: 

 

·        First Flight of International Festival Shippers at Arlington

·        Weekend Works for Saturday’s Arlington Million

·        Weekend Works for Saturday’s Beverly D. Stakes

·        Weekend Works for Saturday’s Secretariat Stakes

 

 

 

FIRST FLIGHT OF INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL SHIPPERS AT ARLINGTON

 

            It’s the week of Arlington’s International Festival of Racing, and the first group of European invaders for Saturday’s Arlington Million, $750,000 Beverly D. Stakes and $400,000 Secretariat Stakes is already on the ground at Arlington.

 

            Four European-based equine athletes arrived on an Air France flight from Amsterdam to Chicago Saturday evening and were then transported by van through Arlington Park’s stable gate shortly after 9:30 p.m.

 

            “They all arrived safely looking bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at the Quarantine Barn,” said stall superintendant Mary Rodriguez on Sunday morning.

 

            Arlington Million candidate Summit Surge, Beverly D. runners Pachattack and Biased, and Secretariat Stakes starter Wigmore Hall could clear quarantine Monday morning.

 

            Irish-bred Summit Surge, owned by William Bellew and trained by Luca Cumani, is coming off 1 1/4-length win in Great Britain’s Group II Sky Bet York Stakes at York July 24.

 

            Michael Deegan’s Pachattack, trained by Gerard Butler, is coming off two wins in listed stakes in Great Britain, while Marquesa de Mortalla’s Biased, conditioned by Mikel Delzangles, recently tallied in listed stakes company in France.

 

            Irish-bred Wigmore Hall, owned by Mark Hawtin and trained by Michael Hall, is coming off two straight stakes scores in Great Britain and is the lone European invader for the Secretariat Stakes restricted to sophomores.

 

            A second equine charter of European shippers on a Singapore Airlines flight is due in Sunday evening.

 

-MORE-

Barn Notes

August 15, 2010

Page 2

 

WEEKEND WORKS FOR SATURDAY’S ARLINGTON MILLION

            Tom McCarthy’s General Quarters, an intriguing Arlington Million candidate who won the Grade I Woodford Reserve Turf Cup at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day May 1, worked a bullet five furlongs under the Twin Spires main track in a minute flat Saturday.

 

            “He went real good,” said McCarthy, speaking over the phone from Louisville, Kentucky, Sunday morning.  “It was an excellent work for him, and I can tell you myself he walked with a lot of energy this morning.  I’m bushed.  As it stands right now, I’m planning on bringing him up to Arlington Friday night.”

 

            Shadwell Stable’s Tajaaweed, an Arlington Million candidate based at Chicago’s northwest suburban oval, breezed five furlongs in 1:03 Saturday morning over the grass with the “dogs” well out from the rail.

 

            “He worked well,” said trainer Danny Peitz.  “Michael (jockey Baze) was pleased.”

           

WEEKEND WORKS FOR SATURDAY’S BEVERLY D. STAKES

            Nelson McMakin’s Hot Cha Cha, third beaten two lengths in Arlington’s Grade III Modesty Handicap July 17 as the final designed prep for Saturday’s Grade I Beverly D. Stakes, breezed five furlongs in a minute flat over the Polytrack at Keeneland Saturday morning in preparation for the Arlington Million’s sister race.

 

            Here at Arlington last Saturday over the local Polytrack, Frank Calabrese’s Romacaca breezed five furlongs in 1:01.60 in advance of Saturday’s Beverly D.

 

            Juddmonte Farms’ Treat Gently, winner of Delaware Park’s Grade III Robert G. Dick Memorial Stakes July 17, breezed five furlongs in 1:01.40 over Belmont’s training track Saturday morning prior to the Beverly D.

 

WEEKEND WORKS FOR SATURDAY’S SECRETARIAT STAKES

            Estrorace LLC’s Workin for Hops, who has a chance to become the fourth horse in history to sweep Arlington’s Mid-America Triple should he sweep Saturday’ Grade I Secretariat Stakes, breezed five furlongs in 1:01.40 Saturday in advance of the Secretariat.

 

            “It was a good, good work,” said Arlington head clocker Bobby Belpedio shortly after the move.  “He got the last quarter in 23 and then galloped out three-quarters in 1:14.40.”

 

            On Sunday morning, trainer Mike Stidham’s assistant Hilary Pridham, who was aboard for the move, said Workin for Hops felt great during the breeze.

 

            “Now, all we have to do is hold off that big gray monster (Donegal Racing’s Paddy O’Prado, who breezed five furlongs in 1:01.40 at Churchill Saturday) that is coming to face us.”

 

            Lothenbach Stables’ Mister Marti Gras breezed in 1:06.80 Sunday for the Secretariat.

-END-

 

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