Arlington Million International Festival Barn Notes, AM - (8/10/11)
Contact: Graham Ross
graham.ross@arlingtonpark.com
In today's notes:
PACHATTACK LOOKING TO IMPROVE OFF ‘10 BEVERLY D. DISAPPOINTMENT
Michael Deegan’s Pachattack is seeking a better finish in the Grade I Beverly D. Stakes after a sixth-place finish a year ago.
Trained by Gerard Butler, who is in his first year with a string at Arlington, Pachattack was a six-length runaway winner of the Grade III Arlington Matron over Polytrack in May, but has been off since. “We worked her after that win,” Butler said, “and she just came back a bit slow out of that.”
Butler gave his mare by Pulpit a month and has recorded four works since. “She is very familiar with the course here and has run well fresh in the past, so she should have no problems in this spot.”
DEFENDING BEVERLY D. CHAMPION ÉCLAIR DE LUNE SETTLING IN
Richard Duchossois’ Éclair De Lune, winner of the 2010 Beverly D. Stakes, walked the shedrow Wednesday morning a day after arriving from California. Hall of Fame conditioner Ron McAnally was with his mare today and could not be happier with her ship.
“She is really an ideal shipper,” McAnally said. “She never stopped eating.”
Away from the races since a sixth in May’s Grade I Gamely at Hollywood Park, McAnally has given the 5-year-old German-bred seven stamina-building works over the turf in Southern California.
“Her last three works have been around the dogs at Del Mar, and while they are recorded at seven furlongs, she was really even running farther than that on the outside of the course.”
Off the board in her five starts since last year’s win, but beaten just two lengths in the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, McAnally is hopeful that his mare clicks in familiar surroundings.
“We’ll take her around the paddock and hope she remembers the success from here, and obviously, she favors this course,” McAnally said. “It was special to do it once and a second win would be incredible.”
SOUTH AFRICAN STAR RIVER JETEZ GETTING ACCLIMATED
While trainer Mike deKock arrives in Chicago this afternoon, assistant trainer Trevor Brown has overseen preparations for the South African mare, River Jetez, who is owned by Barbara and Cedrick Amm and Marsh Shirtliff.
“We are very happy,” Brown said Wednesday morning. “She has settled in well and is eating well.”
River Jetez is likely to gallop on Arlington’s turf course on Thursday morning at 8:00.
BROWN-TRAINED DUO READY FOR FESTIVAL ENGAGEMENTS
Martin Schwartz’s Stacelita makes her first start for new trainer Chad Brown after running for Jean-Claude Rouget in the United Nations at Monmouth Park.
“She’s gotten a little bit better each week we’ve had her,” Brown said from Saratoga on Wednesday. “Her energy level has been great and we are really pleased with the way she has been training.”
Stacelita worked Monday morning at Saratoga and recorded the same time, 48.23 seconds over the firm Oklahoma turf course, as Desert Sage, a stakes-placed stablemate. Desert Sage’s work was recorded as a breeze while Stacelita’s was rated as handily; Brown suggested there was no reason to read into the tag.
“I don’t know why they were different,” Brown said, “they pretty much went the same.”
Brown will also start Gary and Mary West’s Casino Host in the Grade I Secretariat Stakes after a third-place finish at 20-1 in the Grade II Virginia Derby.
A son of Dynaformer, Brown agreed that the extra ground and firmer going were attributable to his solid run at Colonial Downs after a dull fifth in the one-mile Hill Prince at Belmont over a yielding course.
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