FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Michael Adolphson
(847) 385-7558
Barn Notes: Friday, June 20, 2014
In Today's Notes:
- Arlington Oaks and Hatoof Probable Targets for Maria Maria
- Big Tom Prado May Try American Derby
ARLINGTON OAKS AND HATOOF PROBABLE TARGETS FOR MARIA MARIA
Curtis Green's Maria Maria, a popular 2-1 chalk winner of an open allowance for fillies and mares on Thursday, will now be aimed at richer prizes, according to her connections. The daughter of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin collared Christine and Phil Hatfield's talented fellow sophomore Zubi Zubi Zu in the final yards of the flat mile main course event and edged clear to a neck victory under Sheldon Russell. The victory earned her a 93 Equibase Speed Figure – her highest on a synthetic course.
"She came out really good today," trainer Jimmy DiVito reported Friday morning. "She ran a very good race. Last time she was a little wide on the grass, but this time (on the main course), she didn't mind being in between horses. She was a little closer, too. Before, she would drop back too far in the middle of the race and have too much to do."
Last out, while being ridden by Russell for the first time, the Kentucky homebred faced older fillies in a 1 1/16-miles turf allowance and was fanned five-wide. Her belated bid was impressive, though, as she closed many lengths in deep stretch and finished fourth – beaten only two lengths. As a juvenile, the dark bay filly finished a good third – beaten 2½ lengths – in the Listed $100,000 Arlington-Washington Lassie.
"I think we'll aim to the ($75,000) Hatoof (on Aug. 16), now," DiVito said. "I think she's better around two turns and a little better on grass. The (Grade III $150,000 Arlington Oaks on July 19) is possible, too. She's definitely more mature now. Last year I wasn't sure she could go two turns, but now I think she can."
Runner-up Zubi Zubi Zu, a Mike Stidham trainee, will look for a similarly conditioned race to yesterday's allowance (non-winners of two other than maiden, etc.) for her next race, according to her conditioner. Stidham reported that she came out of the race happy and healthy.
BIG TOM PRADO MAY TRY AMERICAN DERBY
S. D. Brilie Partnership's impressive Arlington International Racecourse allowance winner Big Tom Prado may take a step up in class next out in the Grade III $200,000 American Derby, according to trainer Christine Janks.
"(The American Derby) is definitely a possibility for him," Janks said. "I'll talk it over with the owners. They're usually game. He's doing really well, now. We don't take that for granted."
On June 14, the sophomore beat a field of nine state-bred older horses in his sixth career start in the 1 1/16-miles allowance in flashy style – diving between horses in the closing strides under Sheldon Russell and getting up by three-quarters of a length. The victory earned him an 88 Equibase Speed Figure and was his first victory since his debut at Arlington in September 2013.
"I actually did expect him to run really well," Janks said matter-of-factly. "He looked outstanding to us on the turf last year. He ran well in Kentucky on the grass (finishing third in his second career race as a juvenile) with a bad trip. He probably should have been second that day.
"Then, we tried him on the dirt (third race) and Polytrack (fourth) in his next two spots because they came up and we were running out of options. His (fifth) race was on the grass May 24 and was his first hard race in five weeks. He definitely had excuses."
Though the trials of the young gray gelding's career have not always been immediately fruitful, they may be paying dividends in the homebred's fitness level. In addition to winning the race last Saturday, he also threw a bullet work in :59.20 (best of 39) on the previous Sunday.
"I think we're pretty well set right now. He's very fit and we definitely know he's a good horse because he was able to overcome all of our experiments," Janks concluded.
-END-
David Zenner│Senior Manager of Communications
Arlington International Racecourse
2200 W. Euclid Ave. Arlington Heights IL 60006-0007
P 847.385.7535│C: 847.371.1670 | F: 847.870.6727│E: David.Zenner@arlingtonpark.com
Twitter: @dave_zenner, @arlingtonracing
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