A total of 24 juveniles will line up at Arlington Park on Saturday to take part in the 83rd editions of the Arlington-Washington Futurity and Arlington-Washington Lassie.
The seven-furlong contests, each worth $75,000, will be run on the Polytrack and could prove to be interesting preps for the upcoming juvenile events at Del Mar during the November 3-4 Breeders’ Cup.
The Futurity is first up as the 7TH race and drew a field of 10. Of that bunch, all but two have already broken their maidens.
Among the winners, Soul of Discretion boasts the largest margin of victory. The Discreetly Mine colt romped by 13 lengths in an August 23 maiden special weight at Canterbury Park to earn an 88 BRIS Speed rating. Trained by Dan McFarlane, the dark bay juvenile keeps Leslie Mawing aboard for this first try against winners.
Barry Lee earned a field-topping 92 BRIS Speed figure when capturing his maiden debut at Laurel Park on July 14 by 6 1/2 lengths, but was no match when eighth in the Saratoga Special (G2) at the Spa on August 13. Trainer Horacio DePaz has tabbed Horacio Karamanos to pilot the dark bay son of Violence.
Ghaaleb’s Winner, a 3 1/4-length winner at first asking on August 15 at Fairmount Park, and Our Thomas, fourth over Arlington’s Polytrack in his initial outing on August 12, will both get first-time Lasix in this spot.
Like Our Thomas, P R Radio Star will also be trying for a first win in this spot after debuting at Arlington. The bay son of Warrior’s Reward finished third, just three parts of a length behind re-opposing winner Take Charge Dude, in that August 12 affair.
Completing the Futurity field are Kate’s Golden Dude, a 5 3/4-length winner at Indiana Grand for trainer Tom Amoss on August 11; Captivating Moon, a two-length scorer over Arlington’s turf on July 30 for conditioner Chris Block; East Rand, who broke his maiden second out on August 18 on Belterra Park’s turf by six lengths for horseman Kellyn Gorder; and The X, a 3 1/2-length turf maiden victor at Ellis Park on August 4 for trainer Ben Colebrook.
One race later, 14 juvenile fillies go in the Arlington-Washington Lassie. Two have yet to visit the winner’s circle while a third will be making her career bow in this spot.
Southampton Way headlines this group as the 5-2 morning-line favorite for DePaz. After finishing fifth in her debut over a sealed, muddy Pimlico track, the Into Mischief filly returned July 21 to take a Saratoga maiden by a length. The bay lass followed up last out with a runner-up effort in the Adirondack Stakes (G2) and reunites with Karamanos for a second try at stakes glory.
Red Dread is the only two-time winner in the field, having sandwiched a fourth-placing in the Debutante Stakes at Churchill Downs on June 30 between a pair of scores on Presque Isle Downs’ synthetic Tapeta in June and August. Trained for that trio by Wayne Rice, the chestnut daughter of Five Star Day will be making her first start for new conditioner Bill Connelly here under Jose Valdivia Jr.
Six of the 14 runners in the Lassie – Richie’slilwildcat, Espressa, Fabriana, Saucy at Midnight, Her Wild Lifestyle and Cowgirl Callie – have all broke their maidens over Arlington’s Polytrack. Romantic Attack got her initial win over the Arlington turf.
Rounding out the Lassie field are Presage, last-out winner at Presque Isle Downs on July 16 in her third try; Ardor, recent Woodbine maiden winner on August 12; Lemon Drop Twist and Bet She Wins, each looking for a first win here; and career debuter Caramel Cream.
