Friday, September 5, 2014

Arlington Barn Notes: Fri., Sept. 5

               
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                Contact: Michael Adolphson
(847) 385-7558
@AdolphsonRacing
 
Barn Notes:  Friday, September 5, 2014 
 
In Today’s Notes: 
  • Final Redemption Could Step It up in Pucker Up
  • Whyruawesome Back in Action Soon
  • Good Bye Greg Flies Half-Mile
 
 
FINAL REDEMPTION COULD STEP IT UP IN PUCKER UP
 
        Graham Motion is one of the most respected trainers in the game for many reasons.  From his ability to develop and optimize young horses to his sterling reputation as one of the most sincere conditioners in the industry to his dexterity in managing a large, diverse and highly successful stable at the top level – when Motion aims a horse toward a certain race, the competition is usually highly cognizant. 
 
One promising Motion charge being considered for a trip to Arlington International Racecourse next weekend is Narola Stable’s Final Redemption – a lightly raced Canadian-bred daughter of Kentucky Derby runner-up and top sire Hard Spun who could be a key player in the Grade III $150,000 Pucker Up Stakes. 
 
Coming out of a hard-charging runner-up finish to Dogwood Stable’s subsequent repeat stakes winner Miss Frost in the restricted $100,000 Tenski Stakes at one mile at Saratoga – in only her second start – the bay sophomore has shown acute promise.  In her debut – on yielding but still quick ground – she scorched six furlongs on the Belmont Park grass in 1:09.88 – beating next-out winner Orient Harbor.
 
“The Pucker Up is a possibility and she’s doing well,” Motion confirmed.  “She ran well at Saratoga last out and perhaps was a little unlucky.  The filly that beat her has become quite good – so it’s no disgrace.”
 
        Out of Padua Stable’s swift sprinter Flawless Diamond, Final Redemption would be putting her stamina to the test once again if she makes the trip to Chicagoland for the Pucker Up’s 1 1/8 miles.   “It’s going to be a competitive race and I think she’ll handle the distance,” Motion said.  “It’s not necessarily something you immediately want, but it’s just how a lot of races are sometimes.  A lot will depend on if the ground is soft.  She would prefer it firm.”
 
-MORE-
 
 
 
Barn Notes
September 5, 2014
Page 2
 
WHYRUAWESOME BACK IN ACTION SOON
 
        With the Grade III $125,000 Arlington-Washington Futurity Saturday, it is quite appropriate that one of the juvenile stars of last year’s edition has resurfaced on the Arlington International Racecourse worktab and is looking for a comeback race.  Windy Hill Farm’s Whyruawesome was a smashing victor of a maiden race in August of last year – earning a lofty 93 Equibase Speed Figure (higher than any juvenile this season at Arlington) – and was subsequently well respected at the windows at 3-1 en route to finishing second behind eventual multiple stakes winner Solitary Ranger in the Futurity.
 
        Little went well after that.  Wanting to try turf with the gelding, trainer Anne Smith entered him in the Grade III Bourbon Stakes at Keeneland as a possible prep for the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf – but the race was taken off the grass and the son of Whywhywhy ran an inexplicably dull 11th of 13.  He followed that up with fifth-place finishes in a Keeneland allowance – again on the Polytrack – and the Grade III Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes – his first dirt attempt.  After an eight-week break and a last-place finish in the Listed Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn in January, it was obvious that something was amiss with the talented chestnut. 
 
        “He had some internal issues and some bad ulcers and such and he needed the time off,” Smith said.  “He was given time at the farm and then started training down in Southern Illinois before heading up here this summer.”
 
        After a sharp bullet work at Fairmont Park on July 29 in :49 flat for a half-mile, the tall, leggy charge took up residence once again at Smith’s barn on the Arlington backstretch and has turned in three useful works, including a five-furlong breeze in 1:01.60 on Aug. 21.  “I’m hoping to finally run him in a two-turn turf race next week or the week after,” Smith confirmed.  “He is happy and his coat looks amazing.  He’s always been a little light, but he definitely is fit and looks great.  I just hope he wants to be a racehorse again.”
 

GOOD BYE GREG FLIES HALF-MILE
 
        Patricia’s Hope LLC’s speedy Good Bye Greg set the Arlington International Racecourse Polytrack ablaze Friday morning with a four-furlong workout in a torrid :45.40.  The time eclipsed the other 26 half-mile workouts by two seconds and was a full three seconds faster than the third-fastest move by none other than William Stiritz’s stakes-quality sprinter Card – arguably one of the fastest horses on the grounds.  According to trainer Larry Rivelli, Good Bye Greg remains possible for the Grade III $300,000 Gallant Bob at Parx on Sept. 20 or an allowance race at Arlington. 
 
        Also on the worktab was Gary Biszantz’s Helen Kathleen who went a maintenance half-mile in :48.60 for trainer Mike Stidham.  The daughter of Candy Ride is aiming toward a probable run and step-up in class in the Grade III $150,000 Pucker Up Stakes next weekend.
 
-END-
 
David ZennerSenior 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
 
     
 
 
 

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