by Jennifer Caldwell
Willcox Inn, winner
of the the first leg of the Mid-America Triple when taking the Arlington Classic
S. on
May 28, returns to Arlington Park in pursuit of that series’ second leg, the
$200,000, Grade 2
American Derby, on Saturday. The 1 3/16-mile turf test serves as the final local prep for the
Grade 1 Secretariat, which will be held August 13.
The American Derby is one of three major stakes that comprise Arlington’s Million
Preview Day program. The 11-race card
also includes the $150,000, Grade 3
Modesty
Handicap, the
prep for the Grade 1 Beverly
D., and $150,000, Grade 3
Arlington
Handicap, the Arlington Million prep. As an added bonus, the 1-2-3 finishers in
each of the races will have their entry and starting fees waived for the
respective event next month if they choose to run.
Willcox Inn stalked the pace in the 1 1/16-mile Arlington Classic before sweeping to the lead approaching the furlong
marker and drawing off to a 2 1/2-length tally as the 3-2 betting choice. The Mike Stidham-trained colt has never missed the board in three turf trips,
including a third-place run in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at
Churchill Downs last November. Robby Albarado, who guided the sophomore to
his Arlington Classic victory, will once again be in the irons.
Prominent among those set to line-up against Willcox Inn is Derby Kitten,
who
comes into the American Derby off a third in the May 30 Lone Star
Derby. Prior to that, the Mike
Maker charge ran 13th in the Kentucky Derby after winning the Grade 3 Lexington over Keeneland’s Polytrack. On the board in six of eight turf starts, his lone grass score came when he
broke his maiden for a $75,000 tag at Gulfstream Park in January. Julien
Leparoux has the call.
Overseas invader Cannon Hill arrived earlier this week from Ireland. The
bay gelding is
trained by that country’s leading conditioner Dermot Weld, who is no stranger
to the American Derby having saddled Pine Dance to capture the race in 2000, Evolving Tactics
in 2003 and Simple Exchange in 2004. Patrick
Smullen, who rode the 2003 and 2004 victors, will make the overseas journey to
partner with Cannon Hill on Saturday.
Other of note in the American Derby include Close Ally and Suntracer. Close Ally was runner-up in the
Grade 2 American Turf and Lone Star
Derby in his last two starts. He is trained by Neil Howard and will be ridden by
Corey Lanerie. The Chris Block-trained Suntracer ran second in the
Arlington Classic last time out after previously winning a pair of turf
allowance races and will be looking to turn the tables on Willcox Inn with Shaun Bridgmohan
aboard.
One race earlier, the Bart Evans-owned and -trained Wasted Tears will attempt to stretch her
speed out to 1 3/16 miles as the 122-pound starting highweight in
the Modesty. The six-year-old has captured the last three
editions of the Grade 3 Ouija Board at Lone Star Park, winning this year’s
renewal by five lengths in her most recent start on May 30. A 12-time
winner in 17 starts on turf, including last season’s Grade 2 John C. Mabee at Del
Mar, she has never run more than nine furlongs in her career.
Arriving in Chicago late last week, Wasted Tears worked three furlongs in :38 over
the firm Arlington turf course Wednesday morning with the dogs placed well off the inside rail. Leparoux,
who was aboard for her most recent score, retains the mount.
Dual Group 3 victress Fantasia comes into the Modesty off a second-place finish
in the Grade 1 Just a Game on June 11 at Belmont Park, and also placed in her other
two starts this year, the Grade 2 Jenny Wiley and Grade 2 Distaff Turf Mile. The Jonathan Sheppard
pupil will be ridden by Rajiv Maragh while toting 120 pounds.
Three horses — Askbut I Won’ttell, Endless Expanse and My Baby Baby — will each carry 118 pounds
for the Modesty. Askbut I Won’ttell is winless in three starts this
year but captured the Cardinal and My Charmer, both Grade 3s, last year. Endless
Expanse captured her North American debut on February 27 against optional
claiming company, finished second in the Grade 3 Orchid in March, but was only
able to run fifth last out in the Grade 3 Bewitch in late April. My Baby Baby is
exiting a come-from-behind tally in the Grade 3 Mint Julep at Churchill Downs.
Juniper Pass,
hero of the Grade 2 San Luis Rey and Grade 2 San Juan Capistrano in California, and
Argentinean Horse of the Year Interaction head a field of
10 older horses entered for Saturday’s 10-furlong Arlington H. to close out the
stakes action on the card.
Juniper Pass will carry the starting highweight of 122 pounds under Brice
Blanc, while Interaction, who will be making his first
start since March 3 when he finished seventh in the Group 2 Dubai City of Gold on the turf at Meydan, will weigh in at two pounds less with Corey
Nakatani in the saddle in his North American debut.
Dean’s Kitten enters the Arlington ‘Cap off a victory in the
Dallas Turf Cup at Lone Star Park in his most recent effort on May 30. The four-year-old colt was
third through the finish line but subsequently placed fourth for interference in
last year’s American Derby over this course and then ran fifth in the
Secretariat over the Arlington ‘Cap course and distance.
Tajaaweed will be looking to better his third-place finish in this
race one year ago and comes into this year’s renewal off a good second in the
Opening Verse S. at Churchill Downs three weeks ago.