Ron Correll
Senior columnist
Tracksideview.com

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Rahystrada was sent off as the third betting choice in the Grade 3 Arlington Handicap and rewarded his backers with a $14.20 win payoff as he came from mid-pack rounding the second turn and scooted away to a half-length victory over favorite Just as Well on Saturday at Arlington Park.

Inez Karlsson kept the Bryon Hughes-trainee covered up early as Marsh Side and Cross Village took the field through fractions of 25.29, 49.85 and 1:12.62 for six furlongs.
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Kat Kubik/Tracksideview.com
A happy Inez Karlsson is aboard Rahystrada as he is lead into the winner’s circle following the Arlington Handicap.
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“He’s an amazing horse. I know he was ready. He likes to run off the layoff and he knows what to do,” Karlsson said.

The six-year-old son of Rahy came into the American Derby off a third place in the Grade 2 Dixie on May 15 at Pimlico Race Course in Maryland.

“We knew he was improving and we hoped he’d keep getting better, which he has and it’s worked out. We found out some things about him, too,” Hughes said.

Just as Well ran out of ground in the mile-and-a-quarter race on the turf course, but trainer Jonathan Sheppard still was proud of his charge. “He ran a great race. I think the only difference was that the winner got through on the inside and we had to go on the outside.”

Besides the $14.20 to win, Rahystrada paid $6.20 and $4.60. The exacta paid $39 and the trifecta paid $354.80 with Tajaaweed rounding out the top three.

By virtue of his score here, the 6-year-old gelding earns an automatic berth with entry and starting fees waived for the Grade I Arlington Million on Aug. 21, as do runner-up Just as Well and third-place finisher Tajaaweed.

General Quarters, who was sent off as the second favorite, finished sixth. Jockey Rafael Bejarano said the ground was too hard for him. “The grass was too hard for him. He never really got comfortable out there. He ran alright for awhile, but then he kept switching leads to try to get comfortable and he never really did.

General Quarters won the Grade 1 Turf Classic on May 1 at Churchill Downs over a yielding course.