Pin Oak Stable’s homebred EUPHONY (Forest Wildcat) had no Polytrack
experience entering Saturday’s $150,000
Arlington Matron H. (G3), but had worlds of momentum with four consecutive
stakes wins on both dirt and turf dating back to July. Hustled by Cliff Berry
from post 7 to secure position along the inside, the four-year-old hugged the
rail until the top of the stretch when she drifted out several paths and held
sway through the lane to post the 7-1 upset by three-quarters of a length.
Leading by a length through an opening quarter in :25, Euphony yielded the
top spot to 93-1 outsider Boudoir (Mutakddim) approaching the backside. That
longshot passed the half-mile marker in :49 3/5 and was still on top after six
furlongs in 1:14 2/5. Always within striking range, even after yielding second
to 4-5 favorite Indescribable (Pleasant Tap), Euphony still had plenty left in
the tank for the stretch run. Building up a short lead when roused by Berry, she
held off the late charge of 4-1 second choice Kiss With a Twist (Lemon Drop Kid)
to garner her first graded stakes win in a time of 1:50 3/5 for nine furlongs.
“I didn’t know she would break that way, and since nobody was coming we were
relaxed,” Berry said. “She’s a smart horse and she knew what she was doing. I
had to use her a little bit going into the turn, to help save my position. Other
than that everything went great.”
Euphony paid $17.80, $8.20 and $3.60, and topped the $99 exacta. Kiss With a
Twist was 2 1/2 lengths clear in the place spot, returning $5.20 and $3 to her
backers. Indescribable, who captured last year’s Arlington Matron as well as two
consecutive runnings of the Doubledogdare S. (G3) at Keeneland, was in great
position to pounce turning for home but came up empty. She brought back the
mandatory minimum of $2.10 and completed the $232.40 trifecta. Home’s the Best
(Western Playboy), at 43-1, rallied from last to finish the 7-2-9-10 superfecta
that paid $2,197.40.
The Arlington Matron was marred when Born to Be (A.P. Indy) fell after
clipping heels with Sky Mom (Maria’s Mon) at the top of the stretch. Jockey Rene
Douglas, aboard Born to Be, was taken to Northwest Community Hospital after
complaining of back pain and soreness in his neck. Sky Mom
crossed the wire fifth, but was disqualified and placed eighth for interfering
with Born to Be. Following Sky Mom under the wire were Serenading (A.P. Indy),
Boudoir and Gloria Goodbody (Arch). Laguna Plateada (Chi) (Sir Cat) and Venetian
Causeway (Giant’s Causeway) were withdrawn, the latter staying home at Belmont
Park for the Sheepshead Bay S. (G2) where she trailed a field of six.
Trained by Donnie Von Hemel, Euphony captured her first three starts at the
2008 Oaklawn Park meet including the Instant Racing S. She met her first
reversal when a distant third to Storm Mesa in the Cinemine S. at Lone Star,
then was second in the Little Treasure S. in her turf debut at Louisiana Downs.
She has not tasted defeat since, reeling off victories in the Marie P. DeBartolo
Oaks on the Louisiana Downs turf, the Prairie Meadows Oaks, Remington Park Oaks
on grass, and the Bayakoa S. at Oaklawn to kick off her 2009 campaign. Her
record now stands at 10-8-1-1, $373,600.
Produced from the multiple stakes-winning Strike It Up (Smart Strike), the
Kentucky-bred Euphony has a juvenile half-sister named Moon Music (Malibu Moon)
and a 2009 half-brother named Orchestration (Cherokee Run). This productive
female family has also produced the likes of Grade 1 winners Prenup (Smarten)
and Dream Empress (Bernstein) as well as multiple Grade 2 notables Possible Mate
(King’s Bishop), Fairy Garden (Lyphard) and Guided Tour (Hansel).