Thomas Fedro Sr. and Team Block’s FREE FIGHTER (Out of Place) lived up to the
loftiest expectations of his name in Monday’s $125,000
Stars and Stripes Turf H. (G3) at Arlington Park, battling resolutely to
hold off 4-5 favorite Brass Hat (Prized) after a prolonged stretch duel. Trained
by Chris Block and ridden by James Graham, the Illinois-bred gelding maintained
a half-length margin at the wire while completing 1 1/2 miles in 2:28 1/5 on the
firm turf.
As expected, the free-wheeling Rumor Has It (Awesome Again) built up a
massive early lead through splits of :25 4/5, :49 4/5, 1:13 4/5 and 1:39 1/5.
Free Fighter raced at the head of the rest of the field, with Brass Hat reserved
farther back for much of the marathon. Rounding the far turn for the second
time, however, Brass Hat had advanced alongside Free Fighter, and the two
together overwhelmed the sputtering Rumor Has It.
Free Fighter held an edge straightening up for home, but Brass Hat threw
everything at him over the course of a relentless stretch drive. At one point,
it looked as if the eight-year-old Brass Hat might eventually wear down the
four-year-old Free Fighter, but the young gun kept finding more to keep the old
veteran at bay. Leaving the gate at nearly 11-1, Free Fighter furnished his
loyalists with payouts of $23.80, $6.40 and $4.
Brass Hat returned $2.60 and $2.10 and ended the $53 exacta. Caberneigh (E
Dubai) crossed the wire another 2 1/2 lengths back in third, and the 12-1 shot
paid $3.80. The trifecta was worth $241.40, and with the 3-1 Rumor Has It
reporting home 5 3/4 lengths astern in fourth, the 3-2-4-1 superfecta was good
for $824.20. Guadalcanal (Graeme Hall) and defending Stars and Stripes champion
Silverfoot (With Approval) rounded out the order of finish.
Free Fighter’s first career stakes victory boosted his bankroll to $234,636
from his 16-6-1-3 record. The chestnut’s best prior stakes finishes were a pair
of thirds in the 2008 Come Summer S. at Canterbury and the off-the-turf Black
Tie Affair H. for state-breds at Arlington in June. He was coming off a turf
allowance score going 1 1/16 miles at this venue.
Bred by Team Block, Free Fighter is a half-brother to multiple stakes hero
and Grade 3-placed Corrupt (Belong to Me). They were produced by the multiple
stakes-winning Taxable Deduction (Prized), whose youngest offspring are an
unnamed yearling colt by Kitten’s Joy and a 2009 filly by Belong to Me. Free
Fighter hails from the family of multiple Grade 1 turf star and millionaire
Astra (Theatrical [Ire]).