FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
In Today’s Notes:
- Catalano Triumvirate Have Final Workouts
- Goldberg Expecting Better from Tannery
- Eight Europeans Arrive for International Festival of Racing
CATALANO TRIUMVIRATE HAVE FINAL WORKOUTS
Not even a hospital bed can keep 11-time Arlington International Racecourse champion trainer Wayne Catalano from having a live hand on the track’s biggest day. A triad of his trainees headed toward three of the four graded stakes of the International Festival of Racing worked Sunday morning with assistant trainer Fernando Canteria watching for the convalescing Catalano.
Gary and Mary West’s Highball worked toward the Grade I $500,000 Secretariat Stakes, Team Valor International’s Infinite Magic for the Listed $400,000 American St. Leger and Hit the Board Stable’s I’m Already Sexy for the Grade I $750,000 Beverly D. The moves were the final of their respective preparations and pleased Canteria.
“They all worked great,” Canteria reported. “I’m Already Sexy worked as good as she usually does – that’s her. They all worked solo and I’m really happy about all of them. It was their last workout before the big day.”
Highball came out first and negotiated an easy five furlongs in 1:03.40, galloping out six furlongs in 1:15.80. The lightly raced son of Lemon Drop Kid was followed soon by the 4-year-old Infinite Magic, who worked the same distance in 1:00.60 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.60. Destined for the American St. Leger, the son of More Than Ready galloped out an additional quarter mile, closing a mile out in 1:39.40. Last of the trio was I’m Already Sexy, who zipped the same distance in :59 flat. Regular jockeys Florent Geroux and Channing Hill worked I’m Already Sexy and Infinite Magic, respectively, while jockey Noel Vigil worked Highball. Clocker Bobby Belpedio noted that Infinite Magic was the most impressive of the three.
GOLDBERG EXPECTING BETTER FROM TANNERY
Grade I winner Tannery – one of six with victories at the highest level expected for the Grade I $750,000 Beverly D. – enters Saturday’s race with something to prove for owner Richard Santulli and trainer Alan Goldberg. A perplexing last of 10 in the Grade I Diana Stakes at Saratoga last out, Tannery is back against many of those players again at Arlington International Racecourse.
“She’s doing well,” Goldberg said. “She’s not running well in the afternoons, but she’s training great. She likes to train – she can be a little stubborn, but obviously that’s part of what makes her a good horse. She’s training like she was before (the Diana); I hope she runs better.”
A closing filly, the daughter of Dylan Thomas contested the pace last time and slowly faltered to the tail end of field at The Spa. The effort came after an excellent second to Riposte in the Grade II New York Stakes at Belmont Park.
“She’s kind of a one-run filly; last race she ran from the start to the seven-eighths,” Goldberg laughed. “She’s a better filly than that. In the (New York Stakes) she was as good as the winner. I think she got stuck in there and the other filly got the jump on her. She’s been training great all year and I think she belongs with good horses.”
According to the conditioner, the bay mare will arrive on Tuesday afternoon from Saratoga and will have a new rider in Robby Albarado in the irons.
EIGHT EUROPEANS ARRIVE FOR INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF RACING
Eight European contestants for the International Festival of Racing at Arlington International Racecourse have arrived on the grounds and are currently in quarantine with an expected release on Tuesday. Arriving first via an Air France flight at 8:35 p.m. on Saturday was the French contingent of the Niarchos Family’s Smoking Sun and Augustin Stable’s Sparking Beam. Smoking Sun is pointing toward the Grade I Arlington Million and expected to be one of the favorites, while Sparkling Beam is a slight outsider aimed toward the Grade I Beverly D.
Arriving via a Qatar Airlines flight at 5:00 a.m. was the English shipment. Team Valor International’s sophomore Euro Charline and Qatar Racing’s Just the Judge – both expected for the Beverly D. – joined a third filly in Listed $400,000 American St. Leger contestant Moment in Time. Three older horses, including Mick and Janice Mariscotti’s Havana Beat, Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock’s Dandino and Pearl Bloodstock’s Side Glance, were also on the flight. Havana Beat and defending champion Dandino are expected to join Moment in Time in the American St. Leger, while Side Glance will have a second consecutive go in the Million.
The final flight – from Ireland – is expected to arrive late Tuesday evening and contain the Ballydoyle-based Coolmore contingent of trainer Aiden O’Brien. Eye of The Storm, Belisarius, Adelaide and Million favorite Magician are expected on such.
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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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