Pucker Up, Stars and Stripes headline Labor Day at
Arlington
While the Arlington Park meet runs through September 27, the major stakes
action at the Chicagoland oval effectively comes to an end on Labor Day with a
four turf stakes bonanza, highlighted by the $200,000
Pucker
Up S. (G3) for three-year-old fillies and the $125,000
Stars and Stripes Turf H. (G3) for older horses over 1 1/2 miles.
The nine-furlong Pucker Up, which often yields a starter or two for the Queen
Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) at Keeneland, attracted a field of 12. There is
no clear-cut favorite on paper, though a handful figure to take a large portion
of the wagering action. Among these are HOT CHA CHA (Cactus Ridge), a Grade 3
winner on Polytrack earlier this year who has fallen just short in the
Appalachian S. (G3), American One Thousand Guineas and Regret S. (G3) in her
three starts on turf. Trained by Phil Sims, the dark bay exits a narrowly beaten
third-place effort behind PEACH BREW (Milwaukee Brew) in the Arlington Oaks
(G3). That race on Arlington’s main track was the biggest career win for Peach
Brew, who has one second-place finish from two previous starts on grass.
C. S. SILK (Medaglia d’Oro) shows just one victory in seven starts since her
score in last year’s Arlington-Washington Lassie S. (G3), but it could prove to
be an important one as it clearly demonstrated her ability to effectively handle
turf. The June 27 second-level allowance at Churchill Downs was an impressive
romp for the Dale Romans filly, who drew away by 3 3/4 lengths over older
fillies and mares. She tired to fifth in the Arlington Oaks last time, but might
fare better on her return to the infield course.
HAMEILDAEME (GB) (Storming Home [GB]) outran her odds when third in the San
Clemente H. (G2) and fourth in the Del Mar Oaks (G1) in California, and figures
to be a late threat under Danny Sorenson. The probable pacesetter in the Pucker
Up is ROMACACA (Running Stag), a popular winner of two overnight stakes on this
lawn, the Diamond Ring and the Hatoof, in her last two starts.
The six-horse Stars and Stripes boils down to three main contenders aged
eight years or older. Grade 1 veteran BRASS HAT (Prized) has enjoyed a
renaissance this season for trainer Buff Bradley by concentrating on turf
racing. Victorious in a mild upset of the Louisville H. (G3) three back, the
eight-year-old has subsequently placed in both the United Nations S. (G1) and
Sword Dancer Invitational (G1).
SILVERFOOT (With Approval), the nine-year-old who captured the Stars and
Stripes last year when it was run on Independence Day, kicked off his 2009
campaign with a victory in the Tin Man S. over this course on June 6, then was
beaten less than three lengths in the July 11 Arlington H. (G3). Like Brass Hat, Silverfoot has enjoyed success in the Louisville H. (three times to be exact)
and has placed in prior editions of the United Nations and Elkhorn S. (G3).
RUMOR HAS IT (Awesome Again), also eight-years old, scored a 59-1 upset of the Kentucky Cup
Turf (G3) last fall and enters off two victories, the Polar Expedition S. going
1 3/4 miles on the main track, and the grassy Rossi Gold S at 1 3/16 miles.
The $100,000
Sea O
Erin H. over one mile attracted a nice one in TIZDEJAVU (Tiznow), one of the
better three-year-old grass runners in the region last year when he captured the
American Derby (G2), Jefferson Cup (G2) and American Turf S. (G3). Though he won
at first asking in his belated seasonal return in May, the Greg Fox pupil was
unplaced in the Firecracker H. (G2) and chased home Metropolitan H. (G1) winner
Bribon (Fr) (Mark of Esteem [Ire]) at Saratoga last time.
RECAPTURETHEGLORY (Cherokee Run), the 2008 Illinois Derby (G2) winner, has won or
placed in all three turf attempts, while PUBLIC SPEAKER (Distorted Humor) has
made his presence felt in a couple of overnight stakes at the current Arlington
stand. DEMARCATION (Gulch), however, has not been up to snuff since finishing in
a dead-heat for first in the River City H. (G3) last November.
The stakes action kicks off Monday with the $50,000
Honor
Glide S. for three-year-olds. Secretariat S. (G1) also-rans GIANT OAK
(Giant’s Causeway), QUITE A HANDFUL (Mutakddim) and PROCEED BEE (Bernstein) will
all try and get back on the winning track in the nine-furlong affair.