Estrorace’s WORKIN FOR HOPS (City Zip) rated a few lengths behind fast early
splits of :22 2/5 and :45 2/5, advanced toward the front midway on the far turn,
and accelerated away from his rivals upon entering the stretch of Saturday’s
$100,000
Hanshin Cup H. (G3) at Arlington Park, drawing clear to a facile
three-length score. Making his first start on an all-weather track since 2009,
the Michael Stidham-trained grass performer made a seamless transition to the
Polytrack, completing a mile in 1:34 2/5 with new jockey James Graham.
“He loved (the Arlington Polytrack),” said Graham, who picked up his third of
four winners on the day. “He got over it great. I had a lot of horse. He won so
easy today that it wasn’t even funny. At the half-mile pole I said, ‘They ain’t
gonna beat him today.'”
Runner-up in the April 15 Maker’s Mark Mile S. (G1), the four-year-old
gelding recorded his fourth stakes win, adding to tallies last year in the
American Derby (G2), Arlington Classic and Grindstone, and Workin for Hops has
placed in four black-type events, including the Secretariat S. (G1). The
chestnut upped his career mark to 14-6-4-1, $584,776.
Workin for Hops returned $6.40, $3.40 and $2.80 as the 2-1 favorite among
eight rivals. Pacific Ocean (Ghostzapper) rallied from off the pace to be a
non-threatening second at nearly 5-2, and it was a half-length back to the 15-1
Havelock (Great Notion) in third. Country Flavor (Empire Maker), Pointing North
(SAf) (Joshua Dancer), pacesetter Cool Bullet (Red Bullet), Pulsion (Include),
Akhmatova (GB) (Cape Cross [Ire]) and Quite a Handful (Mutakddim) came next
under the wire.
Bred by Amy Bondon and Tom McNally in Kentucky, Workin for Hops was produced
by the winning Citidancer mare Citi Pearl, who is also responsible for the
stakes-placed sophomore filly Cryptocandiac (Candy Ride [Arg]); a yearling filly
named Giftie Gie (Master Command); and a 2011 filly by Henrythenavigator.