Arlington Park news release
Contact: David Zenner
Dzenner@arlingtonpark.com
VICTORY ‘BY DESIGN’ IN GRADE III CHICAGO HANDICAP
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (July 3, 2011) – Underscoring her affinity for the seven-furlong distance, John Gunther, Eurowest Bloodstock Services and Tony Chedraoui’s Devil By Design rallied three-wide into the stretch to overtake the front runners and draw off for a 1 3/4-length victory in the Grade III $100,000 Chicago Handicap Sunday at Arlington Park. The 5-year-old mare, trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott and ridden by Corey Nakatani, covered the distance in 1:25.54.
Making her first start since last November at Churchill Downs, the daughter of Medaglia d’Oro was content to track the pace of front runner Dr. Zic who led through early splits of 22.62 seconds for the opening quarter and 45.75 for the half.
“This filly had been off a little while but I had a ton of confidence in her,” Nakatani said. “Ken (McCarthy, assistant to trainer Bill Mott) told me just to be patient with her and give her a chance to win. She’s got class and this is her favorite distance. I felt very confident where I was at. I just bided my time and when I asked her, she kicked on.”
Sweeping to the lead in the center of the track just before the furlong marker, Devil by Design held off a late rally from longshot La Rocca to secure the victory, her fifth in seven tries at the distance and her first graded stakes score. She earned $58,200 for the win, her sixth in 14 starts overall, to push her bankroll to $259,874.
La Rocca closed from far back to get second in the seven-horse field, a length clear of 8-5 favorite Tidal Pool.
“She did everything right,” said Seth Martinez, who rode the runner-up. “She’s just wanting more ground.”
Jockey Eusebio Razo Jr. said of his trip aboard the beaten favorite, “Turning for home, I though we were going to get the field to open up a bit and it didn't. She didn't fire today.”
Dr. Zic, Hot Hot Mama, Hooh Why, Lookn Even Finer and Home’s the Best completed the order of finish.
Devil By Design, third choice in the wagering, paid $10.60, $5.60 and $4. La Rocca returned $13.40 and $7.60. Tidal Pool paid $3.
Arlington Park – the Chicago area’s premier Thoroughbred racetrack located in Arlington Heights, Ill. – will run an 86-day meet in 2011 from Friday, May 6 through Sunday, Sept. 25. Arlington Park, whose parent company is Churchill Downs Incorporated (Nasdaq: CHDN), also operates 11 off-track, simulcast-wagering facilities – Trackside Arlington Park (Arlington Heights), Trackside Chicago, Trackside Quad City Downs (East Moline), Trackside Waukegan, Shooters Bar & Grill at Don Carter Lanes featuring Trackside Rockford, Fat Sam’s Bar & Grill featuring Trackside Lockport, Stanley’s Ale House featuring Trackside South Elgin, Nicolino’s featuring Trackside McHenry, TADS Sports Bar & Grill featuring Trackside South Beloit, Salerno-Pincente Ristorante featuring Trackside Hodgkins and Sundance Saloon featuring Trackside OTB in Waukegan. Information on Arlington Park can be found online at www.arlingtonpark.com.
