ARLINGTON NOTEBOOK
JUNE 6, 2008
by Steve Collison
MAGNETIC MISS (Artax) cruised to front running six-length score in the Your
Ladyship Stakes here on Saturday. With Hall of Fame jockey Earlie Fires in the
saddle, the James “Spanky” Broussard-trained was wearing blinkers for the first
time and ran the seven furlongs in 1:23.26 after recording splits of :22.62, :46.28 and 1:10.75 along the way.
“Spanky said she’d probably be on the lead,” said Fires, Arlington’s all-time
leading jockey in races won. “The other day she worked out of the gate with
blinkers and got away from there a little slow. She was a little slow from the
gate today but as soon as she left there, she got right back in the bit and went
on. I was able to give her a breather around the turn and when I asked her to
run, she was full of run.”
The five-year-old homebred mare earned $31,440 for the
win, her sixth in 21 trips to the post, to boost her career bankroll to $285,910.
Sent off at odds of 6-1, she paid $14.40, $4.80 and $3.80.
JOCKEY NOTES
Veteran jockey Jesse Campbell rode four winners Friday at Arlington Park to
vault into second position in the local jockey standings. That’s a position he
hasn’t seen in some time and we’re sure Campbell is enjoying his new lofty
status. The banner one-day riding feat gave Campbell 16 wins from 100 mounts at
the meeting, one more than Eddie Razo, who was Oaklawn’s leading rider this
winter but who has far fewer mounts, and it will be interesting to see just how
long the talented Razo takes this third billing. However, both are well behind
the leading rider of this session, defending champion Rene Douglas, who
has visited the winner’s circle 34 times from 108 mounts. That Panama-born reinsman is the only jockey in Arlington Park history to win four successive
riding titles at Chicago’s Northwest suburban oval. Another storyline that
continues paying dividends is that of bug rider Brandon Meier. Meier is clearly
well schooled having grown up watching and learning from his dad, Randy, but
still obviously has plenty of learning to do and appears to be very open to
attaining that needed education.
TRAINER NOTES
After 30 starters and a month of racing, how does a trainer maintain a nearly
70-percent winning mark with only three of those runners finishing out of the
money? I suppose you’d have to ask Wayne Catalano as he seems to have the answer
to that one. Left in the Catalano wake are several other solid conditioners such
as Chris Block and Larry Rivelli, who have been overshadowed yet nonetheless are enjoying productive meets of their own. Another who is quietly putting
together the makings of an awesome Arlington meet is Dale Bennett. Bennett is
currently winning at a 42-percent rate with five wins from just 12 starters. Not
only that but Bennett has been extremely active at the claim box this past week, taking
six new runners which will only enhance his position down the road.
Wayne Catalano 20 wins
Chris Block 10 wins
Frank Kirby 8 wins
Larry Rivelli 7 wins
Dale Bennett 5 wins
On the other end
John Wainwright 0-for-17
Joel Berndt 0-for-18
Steve Asmussen 0-for-19
James DiVito 0-for-16
Dee Poulos 0-for-20
TRAINER PROFILE
A trainer like DALE BENNETT who is starting to show signs of life while
flying under the radar is the essence of successful handicapping. As mentioned
earlier, Bennett took the Arlington claiming box by storm this past week in taking
six horses total, three for his Montesano connections. Taking horses at the
beginning of a meet like this illustrates a barn that’s feeling good about their
prospects and optimism tends to bred success. Previously this stable has done
well when sprinting runners coming back first time off the claim and then
cracking down with a route race. That’s the pattern to watch for in the near
future as well as seldom does an operation stray far from what they do best. And
Bennett’s claims also continually improve once they’re under his care so don’t
be too quick to look away three or four starts down the road with his recent
purchases. Aside from his potential claiming prowess, Bennett also isn’t afraid
to drop a runner sharply in class if it means getting to the winner’s circle, and
that would be especially true of the runners owned by Montesano. Stables that
get busy at the claim box like to keep the revolving door open and as such can
afford to drop horses in for a win, cash out and move on to new horizons.
RECENT CLAIMS TO WATCH
Thursday (5/29)
6TH — HARBOR CRAFT (Boston Harbor) has been suffering
through some bad racing luck of late while going for slumping trainer Andy
Hansen. The seven-year-old gelding now gets claimed by high flying Rick Slomkowski, who’s clicking at a
nearly 50-percent clip with first off the claim runners. There’s plenty of
reason for this one to improve and will undoubtedly do so for new connections.
7TH — CAMPO (Prospectors Gamble) returned from an
extended seven month hiatus today only to be claimed by Bennett.
This stable does well when taking chances like this and would expect to see an
improved performance first time around from this six-year-old gelding for new connections.
7TH — RAHOO (Rahy) was claimed from trainer James McMullen in his previous
start. McMullen wasted no time claiming this gelding
back following a brief vacation. That sends a strong
positive signal that this horse is doing physically well and has only an upside
to consider.
9TH — CURIOUS GENIUS (Royal Academy) won his career debut
today and did so in amazing fashion. Despite being compromised by the rail post,
the three-year-old colt circled around his field in prevail with a powerful late run and
galloped out impressively. This was all going just six furlongs, and he was astutely
claimed by Tom Tomillo, who stands to capitalize on this timely purchase.
Friday (5/30)
9TH — FIRE BREWED (Milwaukee Brew), a lightly raced three-year-old, was dropped in
for the lofty price of $50,000 today and was immediately snatched up by Steve Asmussen. That’s a lot of dough for any runner but especially
for a modestly
bred, unproven colt such as this. Asmussen must see something not
readily clear to the masses. And considering his past success with runners taken
from the Block barn, we suspect he’s going to be proven right, again.
Sunday (6/1)
2ND — SHER WIN FOREST (Forest Camp), a three-year-old filly, has had her share of
trouble, including getting stopped in her tracks today. However, she also hasn’t
enjoyed the best of riders, which could change now that she moves into the barn
of trainer Steve Hobby.
3RD — DANGEROUS SUMMER (Victory Gallop) fits a nice niche — there’s nothing better from a
handicapping standpoint then a horse getting claimed by Wayne Catalano off a
weak effort. The odds tend to be better even though a winning outcome is still
just as probable.
6TH — GENERAL CHARLEY (Truluck) was taken by Block, who doesn’t claim many runners
anymore but does exceptionally well when he does. He took this honest running
gelding, who is just starting to find his best grass stride, and success is
just a matter of time.
HORSES TO WATCH
Thursday (5/29)
1ST — STEELA (Stephen Got Even) was entered by trainer Michael Reavis, who obviously received a
call from the racing secretary asking for this three-year-old’s services to help
fill out this short allowance field. In that vein, we can understand why this
horse was never asked for serious run today, but that won’t be the situation next
out when hopefully Reavis will have more say as to where his filly runs.
4TH — TEXAS FEVER (Victory Gallop) is a talented colt who moved prematurely today against a field which he should have handled easily. This is what happens when a
stable’s slumping like the Michael Stidham barn currently is, but these things
have a way of turning themselves around, which may be the case the next time this
one runs.
Friday (5/30)
2ND — PANTHERAS CHARGE (Sir Cat), a first-time starter, was nervous during the
post parade at which time he began acting up and washing out. That obviously
isn’t good nor is hitting the gate with your head when tossing a tizzy before
the break. Despite all of the distractions, the three-year-old turned in a very
encouraging debut performance and needs some watching when making next career
start.
5TH — RIDING THE WIND (Mizzen Mast) has been out twice and both times trainer Steve Hobby has tried to get her on the grass but to no
avail. However, despite not being on her preferred surface and encountering
serious traffic trouble in each, she still has managed to perform deceptively
well. Must believe that once getting into the proper venue, she’s going to have
something to show.
Saturday (5/31)
1ST — ALASKAN TWO (Alaskan Frost), a modestly bred filly, was making her career
debut for a barn that is terrible with first time starters and is also slumping
at this current time. Nonetheless, despite breaking poorly, she turned in a solid
performance and can only get better from here.
6TH — WILDEYDSOUTHERNBOY (Double Honor), a potential first-time starter, never actually raced today as he was scratched after trainer Hugh Robertson,
who discovered he had drawn the undesirable one hole. Robertson is a shrewd veteran
conditioner who knows when he has a youngster ready and may not have wanted to
waste the opportunity due to a poor post. Keep an eye on the entrees until this
one comes around again.
Sunday (6/1)
4TH — FUN WITH PHIL (Distorted Humor) is very quick, which is why
he’s had trouble both times out over the lawn. He moves so suddenly that his
riders simply don’t have time to react. However, this lightly raced
four-year-old is just now discovering the green and will be a force over the
surface throughout the summer months especially with better turf riders aboard.
BEWARE OF THESE
Friday (5/30)
6TH — WHATITSALLABOUT (Labeeb [GB]), who after being claimed for $17,500 by trainer
Hector Magana, easily defeated an allowance field in
first start for new connections. Today the four-year-old gelding was seeking to repeat,
dropping drastically down to $10,000 in just his second start for same stable.
Being aggressive is one thing, but going out of your way to lose money on a horse
you should easily get out on (make money with) is another. This horse didn’t
even manage to gain that repeat against a weak field of $10,000 runners, meaning
there can’t be much juice left in the tank. He was claimed by Bennett, but I seriously must wonder why?