Great Arlington Futurity Field

[Vince P]

Every once in a while there is a FANtastic race for future Darby hopefuls.

My daughter's birthday is February 5th, so I'm thinking of just boxing 2-5 and putting some cash on the 5 to win and even betting that nag in the Futures at the Wynn. What say youz?

Vince P

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/ ... n-futurity

Dixie Band Tops Parade for Arlington Futurity

By Jack Shinar

Trained by Wayne Catalano for owners Darrell and Evelyn Yates, the son of Dixie Union is the only stakes winner in the race, which is contested at one mile on the Polytrack. Prior to the Aug. 8 Spectacular Bid, a seven-furlong test which he won by 1 1/2 lengths while clocking 1:23.29 as the even-money choice, the bay gelding broke his maiden at first asking by 3 1/4 lengths at Arlington June 21.

David Flores has been handed the riding assignment on Dixie Band, who must overcome the far outside post while carrying top impost of 119 pounds.

U Appeal to Me, a clear second in Arlington's Spectacular Bid, seeks to end a three-race losing streak for trainer Michael Stidham. James Graham will ride Oak Crest Farm and John H. Adger's Successful Appeal colt for the first time. U Appeal to Me broke his maiden at Arlington in his debut May 28 going 4 1/2 furlongs.

Four others in the lineup -- Beware the Tiger, Herecomesbert, Oak Motte and Piscitelli -- come into the Arlington-Washington Futurity off maiden wins. Kratisto, a son of Afleet Alex who was second in the Charles Town Juvenile Aug. 15 after breaking his maiden at Delaware Park earlier in the summer, completes the field.

The Arlington-Washington Futurity is the first of three grade III stakes on the Sept. 5 program at Arlington. The others are the $200,000 Washington Park Handicap at 1 3/16 miles and the $150,000 Arlington-Washington Lassie at one mile for 2-year-old fillies.

$150,000 Arlington-Washington Futurity (gr. III, Race 6, 3:28 p.m.), 2-Year-Olds, 1 Mile (All Weather)

http://www.drf.com/static/entries/05/eA ... n=485505#8

PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer

1. Beware the Tiger (KY), J M Campbell, 117, M B Campbell
2. U Appeal to Me (KY), J Graham, 117, M Stidham
3. Oak Motte (TX), E Razo, Jr., 117, T M Amoss
4. Herecomesbert (KY), L J Sterling, Jr., 117, S M Asmussen
5. Piscitelli (KY), J Alvarado, 117, G D Sacco
6. Kratisto (KY), I J Rosendo, 117, A F Allen, III
7. Dixie Band (KY), D R Flores, 119, W M Catalano

[Risen Star]

I hope Kratisto is ready to rock. I'm looking forward to seeing the kid in action.

[Srotagtbs]

I'm kind of surprised Wayne Catalano put David Flores up. D Flo hasn't ridden a race on the Arlington Polytrack in the nearly 3 years it has been installed. I'm also surprised that Flores isn't riding either Unusual Suspect or Church Service in the Washington Park Handicap. I would have thought Abrams or Mitchell would have stuck with a Cali jockey considering they would be more familiar with those horses than the Arlington jocks. That's not to take anything away from the 2 jocks they chose- Junior Alvarado and James Graham who are 1-2 in the jocks standings. Just makes me wonder...

[LARHAGE]

I'm kind of surprised Wayne Catalano put David Flores up. D Flo hasn't ridden a race on the Arlington Polytrack in the nearly 3 years it has been installed. I'm also surprised that Flores isn't riding either Unusual Suspect or Church Service in the Washington Park Handicap. I would have thought Abrams or Mitchell would have stuck with a Cali jockey considering they would be more familiar with those horses than the Arlington jocks. That's not to take anything away from the 2 jocks they chose- Junior Alvarado and James Graham who are 1-2 in the jocks standings. Just makes me wonder...

I'll bet you it's because Ron Anderson is now representing David Flores, Garrett Gomez won the Spectacular Bid Stakes on this colt last out and obviously is not leaving Del Mar to ride there this weekend.

[Srotagtbs]

I'll bet you it's because Ron Anderson is now representing David Flores, Garrett Gomez won the Spectacular Bid Stakes on this colt last out and obviously is not leaving Del Mar to ride there this weekend.

Now that makes sense. Thanks for the info on Anderson having Flores' mounts as well.

[Vince P]

I gather I'm not the only fool who likes this 5 nag in the Arlington Futurity:

(from Marcus Hersh)
http://www.drf.com/news/article/106949.html

"A new and at least mildly appealing horse on the scene is Piscitelli, who will be trainer Greg Sacco's first starter at Arlington. Monmouth-based Sacco, who also sent the filly Suzanne for the Lassie, said a race over Arlington's synthetic track could be beneficial if Piscitelli proves worthy of consideration for the Breeders' Cup.

Sacco said both these horses worked well on the synthetic surface at an Ocala, Fla., training center before coming to Monmouth.

Piscitelli almost won over five furlongs in his career debut, and scored by a length second time out going a two-turn mile.

"He'll sit where he needs to be in a race," Sacco said."

Or this from the same Bible, different writer (Byron King):

By Byron King 09/03/2009 (DRF Plus Subscribers only)

"Beating a Catalano favorite at Arlingto is almost as tough as beating a 1/2 shot. Yet I see a potential upset brewing......I believe outsider Piscitelli can outrun the Catalano Dixie band.

....In winning a maiden at Monmouth, Piscitelli overcame a troubled trip that is not reflected in the charts. Stumbling at the start, Piscitelli quickly recovered ...but was taken back.....hung three wide on both turns - the kind of ground loss that often beats a horse......at 6-1 odds there is plenty upside to him.....

(It's a paid DRF service so I had to excerpt)

Vince P

[Srotagtbs]

I swear, every time I see a DRF article focusing around 1 horse in a race, that horse rarely wins. I don't have stats to back it up, but it's just an observation- or jinx

[Hollywoodmike]

[quote="Srotagtbs"]I swear, every time I see a DRF article focusing around 1 horse in a race, that horse rarely wins. I don't have stats to back it up, but it's just an observation- or jinx. Just like the Sports Illustrated sophomore jinx

[Vince P]

I swear, every time I see a DRF article focusing around 1 horse in a race, that horse rarely wins. I don't have stats to back it up, but it's just an observation- or jinx <img src="/images/chat/lol.gif">

Good point.

I dunno, call it a 6th or 7th sense or whatever, but I think this Victory Gallop colt is gonna whack this field. I have that funny feeling.

Vince P

[Srotagtbs]

I thought that the "Jinx" would strike again, but even a broken clock is right twice a day