The $75,000 Arlington-Washington Futurity and Lassie were run on Saturday at Arlington Park, with a favorite prevailing in one and a longshot romping in the other.
Sagamore Farm and Stanley Hough’s Barry Lee returned to the winner’s circle with a three-quarter length victory in the Arlington-Washington Futurity under Horacio Karamanos.
The dark bay son of Violence was never far back from the early pace set by Take Charge Dude in the seven-furlong Polytrack contest. Barry Lee circled the field on the turn and grabbed command in the lane, holding Captivating Moon, who rallied from the back of the back, on the wire to finish in 1:25.27.
“This horse broke good out of the gate,” Karamanos said. “At the three-eighths pole he was a little bit rank and I didn’t want to steady inside, so I let him move outside and then he went nice and comfortable. At the top of the stretch he started looking around like he needed a little company, but when I whipped him, he responded.”
Sent off the 9-5 favorite, Barry Lee returned $5.60 for the win, his first since breaking his maiden by 6 1/2 lengths at Laurel Park on July 14. Captivating Moon was the near 2-1 second choice and found himself in the back of the nine-strong field after bumping with East Rand at the start.
“(Captivating Moon) was traveling in my hand the first part of the race but once I went to set him down he was flat-footed,” jockey Jose Valdivia Jr. said of his mount. “I couldn’t believe that he almost got up to win.”
It was another 1 1/4 lengths back to Ghaaleb’s Winner, who managed to keep his head in front of Take Charge Dude on the line. The latter’s nose separated him from Our Thomas on the wire, and completing the order of finish were Kate’s Golden Dude, P R Radio Star, East Rand and The X.
Barry Lee entered the Arlington-Washington Futurity off a subpar eighth, beaten 22 lengths, in the Saratoga Special Stakes (G2) last out on August 13 at the Spa. The Horacio DePaz trainee is now 3-2-0-0, $67,000 in his career.
One race later, Lothenbach Stables Inc.’s Bet She Wins was the sixth choice at 13-1 in the baker’s dozen entered in the Arlington-Washington Lassie, but that didn’t stop the Chris Block juvenile from running away to a 9 1/2-length score in the lane.
Jockey Jose Lopez had his hands full on the First Samurai filly as she acted up in the gate, hit the stall at the start, bumped with another rival and then was squeezed. Finally settling into stride while running in midpack down on the inside, Bet She Wins set her sights on Richie’slilwildcat, who was leading the way up front.
Bet She Wins slipped up the rail to easily overtake that rival and shook loose from the rest of the field, opening up in the lane to stop the clock in 1:24.43 for seven furlongs on the Polytrack while paying $28.80 for the win.
“Basically I followed the instructions,” Lopez said. “(Trainer) Chris (Block) told me after the break to try to get over and it happened to be clear. I got over to the rail and it opened up.”
“She had worked good on the Polytrack, and I didn’t really have any other place to go,” Block said. “I told the owners that if she came out of the maiden race in good shape we were going to fire back in the Lassie. Hats off to Jose (Lopez).”
Southampton Way, the 5-2 second choice, followed in second, 1 1/2 lengths up on Espressa.
“She was on the bit, but when I asked she never kicked on,” said Horacio Karamanos, who piloted Southampton Way. “I don’t know if we could have beat the winner, she won really easy. I don’t think it was her best today.”
Lemon Drop Twist was another length behind in fourth. Finishing the order under the wire were Richie’slilwildcat, Romantic Attack, Saucy at Midnight, Fabriana, Her Wild Lifestyle, Caramel Cream, Ardor, Cowgirl Callie and Red Dread.
Bet She Wins is now 3-2-0-1 after earning her first victory via disqualification last out in a turf maiden at Arlington. She finished third in her debut under those same conditions, and has banked $61,200 lifetime.
