The Memorial Day holiday meant the racing week at Arlington stretched all the way to Monday. I went out there on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday…and managed to get a few pictures.
The crowd awaits a sunny Saturday of racing at Arlington.
Seeking Luck is calm after finding that luck. She won Saturday’s Arlington 3rd, an N1X turf dash, by daylight.Penelope Perfect may have finished fifth behind Seeking Luck, but she still pranced around like she owned the place.2013 Springfield Stakes winner Reigning Catfish, before his fourth-place finish in Saturday’s Arlington 4th.Need more big, grey tanks (or more Fort Prado babies) in your life? Buzzy is here to help.In Saturday’s Arlington 5th, Prince Cheval cannot quite catch Hollow Creek.Crusin Fora Bruzin gives a sassy look befitting of his name. Alas, sass got him only so far, and he finished ninth behind Away Westward in Saturday’s 7th race.Away Westward, winner of the 7th on Saturday, makes his best “I’m a cute Fort Prado baby” face.Life guarantees three things: death, taxes, and Affirmed Once More being the pick of the paddock in any race he enters.
Things became more overcast and rainy on Sunday, but that hardly dampened the action. The racing remained on the grass for those willing to brave the weather to enjoy.
He’saruler, before upsetting Sunday’s Arlington 2nd.Aptly named Bold N Grey gets ready for Sunday’s third race. Sent off at 5/1, the Tom Swearingen trainee broke his maiden emphatically.Tam, like every other baby out of Beret (including her multiple stakes winning sister Kepi), is named after some kind of hat. Tam put it all together Sunday, winning a maiden special weight turf dash by daylight.Miss Mongolia’s blaze is flashy yet refined.Even the people in the winners’ circle look a bit surprised after Josh, the longest shot on the board, won Sunday’s 6th.A Shot Away, from a beautiful female family of Illinois-breds, heads toward her first career try at seven furlongs.The showers had subsided, but the paddock remained a little wet for Daddy’s Pleasure (10) and Chica Bonita (8) before Sunday’s finale.Seven-year-old Chica Bonita heads to the track. She missed the board in her first five starts this year, but won Sunday’s eighth race.
Monday’s weather was touch-and-go, but the rain remained just mild enough to keep the races on the grass. The condition of the turf was downgraded to yielding, but the fields and the crowds remained good for the holiday card.
After winning the 2nd race, Nikaluk enjoys a bath.Hey Pretty Boy, who won the 4th race, shows everyone how he must have gotten his name.Mister Marti Gras, before Monday’s Arlington 5th. He just missed, but it should be a good step toward Million Preview Day.Yankee Dealer, before facing the toughest class test of his career in the 5th race, a stakes-quality allowance. He passed with flying colours, wearing down Mister Marti Gras and winning the race.Sacred Range, trained by Dee Poulos, walks the paddock before the Arlington 6th. He wears a blanket from the 1991 Iselin: a race won by Black Tie Affair. Dee’s late husband Ernie Poulos trained Black Tie Affair.Jose Valdivia, Jr. hops off of Canadian Candy, a three-year-old half-sister to Illinois-bred stakes winner Pistols Drawn. Canadian Candy got embroiled in a speed duel with Smart Kiara in the seventh race, and finished fifth.
For any fan of grey horses, or of Fort Prado, the Arlington nightcap on Monday was must-watch racing. The field of twelve contained five greys and three Fort Prado babies.
Giacallure walks into the paddock before Monday’s 8th. He meant business today.Forelock is serious business for Big Tom Prado, whose coat has lightened considerably since last year. In the finale, he debuted for new trainer Michele Boyce.Fellow Fort Prado baby Bold Rally looks out as if to tell Big Tom Prado, “You think you have forelock? No. THIS is forelock.”Prado U, with his blinkers already on, wonders when he will be able to compare forelocks with the other Fort Prado babies.2013 Bourbon Stakes (GIII) winner Poker Player.Coco Mon, another member of the Grey Brigade in the finale, struts his stuff.
A grey won the day: specifically, Giacallure. A four-year-old grey son of Giacomo out of Seductiva (by Lure), Giacallure crossed the wire two lengths in front of the cavalry charge. Along the rail, and ridden patiently by Jose Valdivia, Jr., Giacallure blasted away as soon as he had room. This was awesome, since few things make me happier than seeing horses run well for people I know and like. I first met Mike Schroeck, one of Giacallure’s owners, last fall. He also owns Tizgorgeous, who I was writing about because she did so well in both of the two-year-old stakes at Hawthorne. I watched the race with him and a big group of partners and friends, and the enthusiasm was contagious when he found a way out of the pack and flew to the wire.
After a celebratory drink, everyone headed back to the barns to visit the big, grey man of the hour.
Giacallure does not like peppermints, but Mike makes sure he gets plenty of horse treats.Giacallure also likes hay. Once he was back in his stall, he could not stop munching on his hay net.Giacallure stops eating for just long enough to show off his facial markings.
Of course, Giacallure was not the only horse in the barn…though he was the only one in Richie Scherer’s barn to run today, there were plenty of peppermints and pats on the nose to go around.
2014 Pat Whitworth Illinois Debutante winner Tizgorgeous wonders why Giacallure is getting all the attention. Tizgorgeous won again at Arlington on May 17, her first race back since winning the Debutante.Modern Medicine practices his dashing face, fully expecting to get his picture taken at Churchill on Friday.Oh, Mr. Vegas! How did you know I love flashy blazes and pink noses so much? Have another peppermint!Bourbon Cowboy, serious.Bourbon Cowboy, curious.Bourbon Cowboy, goofball.
Blinkers Off 