FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Michael Adolphson
(847) 385-7558
@AdolphsonRacing
Barn Notes: Thursday, July 24, 2014
In Today's Notes:
- I'm Already Sexy Works toward Possible Beverly D. Bid
- Vancouverite out of Million; Noble Mission Reroutes
- Apprentice Maria Thornton Debuts
I'M ALREADY SEXY WORKS TOWARD POSSIBLE BEVERLY D. BID
Hit the Board Stable's I'm Already Sexy worked Thursday morning in her first major move since improving to four-for-four at Arlington International Racecourse in the Grade III $200,000 Modesty Handicap on July 12. The daughter of Ready's Image had been taking it easy, as expected since her fine tally, but enjoyed getting back to work, according to her connections.
"She worked pretty nice and was happy," reported Fernando Canteria, assistant to trainer Wayne Catalano. "She went nice and easy. A half-mile maintenance work and galloped out (five furlongs) in 1:02." The dark bay multiple graded stakes winner, who also captured the Grade III $175,000 Pucker Up Stakes last fall at the Chicagoland oval, was officially timed in :48 for the move. Exercise rider Fabian Hernandez was aboard.
"We have her nominated to the (Grade I $750,000) Beverly D. (on Aug. 16) here and the (Grade II $250,000) John Mabee (on Aug. 10) out in California," Canteria continued. "We do not know for sure at the moment where we're going, but we will figure that out soon after we talk to Anna (Seitz, principal of Hit the Board Stable)."
I'm Already Sexy, who annexed a division of the $75,000 Hatoof Stakes on Million Day 2013 and an allowance event in addition to her two local graded stakes victories, earned an automatic berth into the Beverly D. with her course and distance win in the Modesty on Million Preview Day.
Her trainer Wayne Catalano, the 11-time Arlington champion conditioner, is currently hospitalized with acute pneumonia at Saint Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. The former jockey and winner of 995 Arlington races was admitted Tuesday.
VANCOUVERITE OUT OF MILLION; NOBLE MISSION REROUTES
In Arlington Million news, Godolphin's Vancouverite – once considered probable to make the 32nd running of the summertime centerpiece of Chicago racing on Aug. 16 – has now changed course and will no longer make the trip. The middle-distance specializing son of Dansili won the Group II Guillaume d'Ornano at Deauville last summer and was second earlier this year in the Group I Jebel Hatta at Meydan.
In slightly more uplifting news, Juddmonte Farm's Noble Mission took a small step toward possible involvement in the Million when his connections decided not to enter Saturday's Group I King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot. The son of Galileo – and full brother to the great Frankel – will instead run in Sunday's Group I Grosser Dallmayr-Preis at Munich.
The change of heart by Juddmonte and trainer Lady Cecil – wife to the late, legendary Sir Henry Cecil – means switching from a 1½-miles event on a right-handed course to a 1¼-miles event on a left-handed course. Additionally, Dallmayr-Preis is a Festival Free Pass race, guaranteeing entry to the Million for the winner. A victory Sunday would be the second in a qualifying event for the Khalid ibn Abdullah-homebred, following his score in the Group I Tattersalls Gold Cup at The Curragh in May over Breeders' Cup Turf winner Magician.
APPRENTICE MARIA THORNTON DEBUTS
Apprentice jockey Maria Thornton makes her racing debut on Thursday in the eighth race at Arlington International Racecourse aboard Voy Por Uno Mas for owner trainer Moises Yanez and his Del Sol Farm.
"I'm a little nervous, but it's good nerves," Thornton said Thursday morning. "I'm excited and you know what the say – if you aren't nervous, you aren't human."
The 25-year-old sister to local jockey Timmy Thornton has been working horses in the morning over the last year and credits conditioners John Haran, Frank Kirby and Mike Stidham – in addition to Yanez – for helping her get to this point. Since just prior to the meet, she had been under the employ of Stidham in the mornings, working many of his quality horses.
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Michael Adolphson│Staff Writer/Media Relations
Arlington International Racecourse
2200 W. Euclid Ave. Arlington Heights IL 60006-0007
P: 847.385.7558│ C: 202.716.7046│F: 847.870.6727│E: Michael.Adolphson@arlingtonpark.com
Twitter: @AdolphsonRacing
Twitter: @AdolphsonRacing
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