After seizing the initiative at the start, Feel the Thunder Stable’s GRAN
ESTRENO (Arg) (Lucky Roberto) was left alone on the front end of Saturday’s
$200,000
Washington Park H. (G3) and slowed down the pace, recording opening splits
in a dawdling :25 4/5 and :52 2/5 en route to a wire-to-wire victory. Winner of
the Claiming Crown Emerald S. in his previous start, the recent $20,000 claimer
went from the turf at Canterbury Park to the Polytrack at Arlington Park to earn
his first U.S. graded victory, completing the 1 3/16-mile test in 2:00 3/5. E.T.
Baird guided the Michael Stidham runner.
Off as the 5-1 third choice, the six-year-old horse rewarded his backers with
$12.20, $6.20 and $4.80 payouts. The top three finishers raced in the same order
at every point of call, with Dubious Miss (E Dubai) reporting in a half-length
behind the winner and Wicked Style (Macho Uno) another 1 1/2 lengths back in
third. The runner-up was off at nearly 8-1 and paid $7.80 and $5.40, and show
was good for $4.80 at 7-2. Next under the wire came Eldaafer (A.P. Indy),
Palladio (Lycius), Unusual Suspect (Unusual Heat), Let It Rock (Trippi) and 5-2
favorite Church Service (Pulpit). The exotics returned $82.20 (exacta), $346.20
(trifecta) and $2,119.20 (8-6-5-2 superfecta).
A Group 1 winner in Argentina in 2006, Gran Estreno raced sparingly in the
United States over the last two seasons and was dropped into the claiming ranks
this year. After being haltered for $20,000 at Gulfstream Park in late March, he
was claimed for the same price tag at Arlington Park on May 1. The chestnut has
been red-hot lately, stretching his winning streak to six on Saturday, and he’s
earned $295,281 from a 21-9-3-4 mark. Out of the Senor Pete mare Great Stampa,
he was bred in Argentina by Eduardo Carlos Luther.