For Episode 228 of Chicago Race of the Day, we get out of the maiden ranks and delve into the Friday finale at Arlington. The 8th is a six-and-a-half furlong conditioned $12,500 claimer. It’s got everything we love here at Chicago Race of the Day: a specialist distance, a thorny condition, and a big field of eleven.

So, let’s dive in!

We here at Chicago Race of the Day absolutely love two-year-old races, and there’s yet another one on Saturday, June 26! Episode 227 of Chicago Race of the Day delves into Saturday’s 5th race at Arlington, a maiden special weight for two-year-olds at five furlongs on the polytrack. They don’t come by often, so we take them when we can!

It’s a big day Saturday at Arlington, too — not just baby races, after all! There are two stakes on the card, the Chicago Handicap (G3) and the Listed Hanshin Cup. I had a conversation with Joe Wulffe of The Daily Gallop at the track about both of the stakes races, so make sure to watch our discussion and read my Twitter thread for a summary of my main points!

For Episode 226 of Chicago Race of the Day, we stay in the maiden ranks. But, this time it’s two-year-olds! Friday’s sixth race at Arlington is a maiden special weight for juvenile fillies and mares, only the second baby race of the year! With eight runners, including seven first-time starters, there’s a lot of thinking to do around pedigree and trainer patterns.

So, let’s get to it!

Episode 225 of Chicago Race of the Day returns to the main track for a seven-furlong maiden claimer for fillies mares. They all have some experience (or, in a few cases, a lot…), but between pedigree considerations of horses trying polytrack for the first time and pace considerations based on the races they’ve already run?

There’s a lot to puzzle through, so let’s get started!

For Episode 224 of Chicago Race of the Day, let’s dive into the last race of the week, a first-level allowance for sophomore fillies! There’s a bit of rain in the forecast…which should suit one of the runners extremely well, if this stays on the grass.

We return to the maiden ranks for Episode 223 of Chicago Race of the Day! The Arlington 5th on Saturday, June 19 is a six-furlong maiden special weight for Illinois-breds, aged three and up. Everyone in the field is still lightly raced, though no one is a first-time starter. So, it’s got that combination of race form and pedigree thinking that makes maiden races so much fun.

So, let’s dive in!

For Episode 222 of Chicago Race of the Day, let’s get back on the main track at Arlington for the day’s 5th, which features a field of salty claiming mares going five and a half furlongs on the main track. Friday’s going to be a hot one, and perhaps a rainy one…so we talk quite a bit not only about the condition of the race, but also how it looks likely to set up.

There’s plenty to think about, so let’s dive in!

Episode 221 of Chicago Race of the Day takes a look at Thursday’s finale at Arlington: a maiden special weight at a mile and a sixteenth on the lawn. The race drew a field of eight, most of whom are very lightly raced. So, there’s a bit of form, a bit of pace, and a lot of consideration on turf pedigree.

Let’s figure it out!

For Episode 220 of Chicago Race of the Day, let’s look at the 5th race at Arlington on Saturday! It’s a six-furlong sprint on the polytrack…we’re staying on the main because it’s going to be a rainy day. And, we’re finding some interesting price horses who have more of a shot than usual between how speed-friendly the track was playing on Friday, and how speed-friendly it’s still likely to play on a warm, rainy day like Saturday.

So, let’s dive in!

We looked at the babies yesterday, but for Friday, we’re back with older fillies and mares on the lawn for an allowance-optional turf dash. It’s a wide-open affair including a jockey assignment that I absolutely love, some interesting placements, and a promising new face who has a real win chance at a price.

Find out all the details on Episode 219 of Chicago Race of the Day!

It’s that time of the year! What time? The first two-year-old race of the year!

For Episode 218 of Chicago Race of the Day, we take a dive into Thursday’s 2nd race at Arlington. A maiden special weight for two-year-olds, the race drew a field of seven. Rather surprisingly for the first two-year-old race here, there are actually a couple of horses who have raced already, adding an interesting and surprising dimension to a race this show always awaits eagerly.

Let’s dive in!