Alabama Stakes and Arlington Million Stakes
by Patricia Woo | Aug 23 2010
Two great races were run on Saturday, Aug. 21: the $500,000 Gr. 1 Alabama Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Saratoga and the $1M Gr. 1 Arlington Million Stakes for turf runners 3 years old and up.
The battle for top 3-year-old filly in the nation continued with the running of the $500,000 Gr. 1 Alabama Stakes at
Saratoga Racetrack in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Odds-on favorite Devil May Care was in the lineup, along with Havre de Grace and Blind Luck. Acting Happy, with Jose Lezcano aboard, took the early lead but set a slow pace for the 10-furlong event. She was chased by Tizahit, Connie and Michael and Havre de Grace. Devil May Care, who competed against males in the Kentucky Derby in May, raced in fifth, while Blind Luck and Joel Rosario trailed.
As the field turned for home, several horses made their move. Havre de Grace began to move forward and claimed the lead, while Devil May Care launched her final bid mid-pack. But Blind Luck, coming five-wide on the outside, blew by Devil May Care with a furlong left. She needed nearly the entire distance to reach Havre de Grace but managed to prevail by a neck in a time of 2:03.89. Acting Happy hung on for third while Devil May Care settled for fourth; Tizahit and Connie and Michael completed the order of finish. Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, the Pollard's Vision filly now has a career record of 13-9-2-2 and earnings of $1,878,712.
Over at Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Ill., 2009 champion male turf runner Gio Ponti was looking to regain his form that saw him win four straight grade 1 races last year. He seemed to be back on track with his recent Gr. 1 Man O' War Stakes victory at Belmont Park on July 10 and was seeking to defend his Arlington Million title, a 1 ¼ race with a $1M purse.
Quite a Handful set the pace early on but was soon overtaken by Tazeez, one of two English-based shippers from the barn of John Gosden. Stablemate Debussy stalked the pace in fourth while Gio Ponti and Ramon Dominguez bided their time in last place while racing along the rail. Upon the final turn, Gio Ponti began to inhale the field, making a bold six-wide sweep and emerging the frontrunner at the sixteenth pole. However, Debussy, under William Buick, was also making his move. Charging from eighth place, he wore down Gio Ponti along the rail, catching him in the final strides. Tazeez was third, and was followed by Rahystrada, Summit Surge, Tajaaweed, General Quarters, Just as Well and Quite a Handful.
Debussy, a 4-year-old Irish-bred son of Diesis, stopped the clock at 2:03.01. His race record improved to 14-5-0-1 and the $582,000 winner's purse boosted his earnings to $1,006,813.
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