A pair of stakes with storied pasts dating back to the early years of racing
at Arlington Park will be renewed on Saturday as part of a 10-race program at
the Chicagoland course. The $100,000 Arlington Matron H. (Grade 3) technically
outranks the $100,000 Arlington Classic, though the latter should yield more
than few contenders for such celebrated highlights as the American Derby (Grade
2) and Secretariat S. (Grade 1) later in the meet.
The probable favorite in the Arlington Matron, a nine-furlong Polytrack test
for older fillies and mares, is Upperline, who exits a disappointing last-place
effort in the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (Grade 2). The Mike Stidham-trained
filly entered the Derby Day feature on a high note with three wins in her
previous four starts, including an authoritative four-length score in the Bayou
H. at Fair Grounds, but failed to fire after being forced to steady at the
start.
Upperline has two wins from three prior outings at Arlington, including a 4
3/4-length romp over course and distance last summer in the Arlington Oaks
(Grade 3). Robby Albarado, who’s endured a difficult season due to injury and
being replaced aboard Animal Kingdom one day before the colt’s victory in the
Kentucky Derby (Grade 1), has the call.
English trainer Gerard Butler, who is based at Arlington this season, will
saddle Pachattack for the Matron. The five-year-old made three North American
appearances last year between stays in England, finishing in mid-pack in the
Beverly D. S. (Grade 1) and E.P. Taylor S. (Grade 1) before romping in
Woodbine’s Maple Leaf S. by 5 3/4 lengths going 1 1/4 miles on the Polytrack, a
performance that could make her one of the favorites here.
Grade 2 winner Satans Quick Chick ran a dull seventh in last month’s
Doubledogdare S. (Grade 3) after breaking from post 11, and has never quite
seemed a 1 1/8-mile type, but has sufficient back class to make an impact for
trainer Eric Reed and new rider Julio Felix, who takes over from the late
Michael Baze. Another exiting the Doubledogdare is that race’s third-place
finisher It’s Tea Time, a Grade 3 winner on dirt who narrowly missed taking the
Ashland S. (Grade 1) on Polytrack last season.
Milwaukee Appeal is winless since her Canadian champion three-year-old filly
season of 2009. Though she placed last year in the Spinster S. (Grade 1), Molly
Pitcher S. (Grade 2) and Shuvee H. (Grade 2), she’s run far below par in her
last three outings. Also in the field is La Gran Bailadora, a stakes winner over
Turfway’s Polytrack in February.
The Arlington Classic, for three-year-olds over 1 1/16 miles on the turf,
kicks off Arlington’s Mid-America Triple, which continues with the July 9
American Derby and ends with the August 13 Secretariat. Willcox Inn, who
defeated Animal Kingdom in their mutual debut over Arlington’s main track in
September, went on to place in the Breeders’ Futurity (Grade 1), Breeders’ Cup
Juvenile Turf (Grade 2) and Grindstone S. before finishing eighth in the Blue
Grass S. (Grade 1) last month. He adds blinkers while in search of his first
turf win and goes for the trainer/jockey team of Stidham and Albarado.
The field of 12 also includes two-time grass winner Crimson Knight, who
narrowly missed upsetting the Tampa Bay Derby (Grade 2) at 86-1 two back, and
last-out Florida Cup Sophomore Turf S. winner Extensive. Keeneland and
Gulfstream allowance winner Suntracer is one of two Illinois-breds in the field,
while Swagger Jack hopes to improve on his fifth in the May 6 American Turf S.
(Grade 2), where he lost contact with the leaders early before offering a
belated rally.