Kat Kubik,
Bob Hill,
Rick Francis
Staff writers
Tracksideview.com

Race 6, Arlington Park — Arlington Washington Futurity G3 – 1 mile for two-year-olds

Of the eight colts in the field, not one has run in a stakes race, and the most accomplished among them have just a single maiden win.  There are two undefeated colts – Rough Sailing (2) and Ghetto Cat (4).  Rough Sailing’s win was at this distance, but on the turf, and he overcame being cut off and going wide.  Ghetto Cat’s race was 5 furlongs and he was on or pressing the pace at all times.  He is one of three colts trained by Catalano; the other two are Impersonator (8) and Major Gain (3).  Impersonator was third in his debut and followed that with a win at 7 furlongs.  Major Gain was second in his debut behind Celeb’s Posse (7) but was losing ground at the finish.  Celeb’s Posse is a major player with a second behind the highly regarded Sherriff Cogburn and notching a win after on the pace at 5½ furlongs.  

Wheemaway (6) was third behind Impersonator in his debut at seven7 furlongs but made up considerable ground.  Weekend Wildcat (5) is the lone horse to try an allowance, but he finished sixth.  Before that he had a close second in a good maiden at Keeneland, and a win at Churchill which got him the highest speed figure of the field.  Finally, Big Blue Caboose (1) has not been closer than 4 ½ lengths back in three starts and will need a big turnaround today.

Each of Catalano’s horses has a chance, but in the end I think Impersonator will be the one to get it done.  The trainer knows how to get a horse into the winner’s circle, and I like how the horse has slowly stretched out and is getting better.  He will avoid traffic on the outside and will be able to stalk a fast pace if he needs to.  Caleb’s Posse may be the best of the rest.  He beat a big field last out over a good horse who’s also in this race, and had a good work leading up to the race.  Weekend Wildcat seems good enough to win this, but I would have liked to see more in his first race off a break.  I liked the way Rough Sailing won his debut, and I will use him for fourth.  Hopefully he can transfer that to synthetic.  Kat’s Picks: 8-7-5-2

Big Blue Caboose (1) – Competitive early, then the doors fall off.  First shades have to help because he’s losing his focus at the five-eighths pole.  Rough Sailing (2) is a perfect description of his maiden victory. Shut off at the three-sixteenth mark, then went wide enough for jockey Michael Baze to grab popcorn from a vendor at the rail.  Other than the Grade 1 Secretariat, trainer Mike Stidham has owned this track’s stakes races.  Can’t wait to see this guy at the Fair Grounds.   Major Gain (3) – The first of a trio for trainer Wayne Catalano, he was all over the place as the beaten race favorite in his debut.   If kept to task, this guy’s trouble.  I always look for trainer/jockey angle and you won’t find any hotter combo than Catalano and Alvarado.  They’re hitting at over 40 percent, and that’s with fifty plus starts. How can you ignore?

Ghetto Cat (4) – Nice win against state breds.  I’m sure he didn’t know they were all local boys, but he’ll know who’s from out of town today.   Weekend Wildcat (5) – After two solid starts, including dirt win at Churchill, you could see that bounce coming before he reached the starting gate at Woodbine last out. Versatile son of Lion Heart will be a player this winter and possibly into early spring. He can race anywhere.   Wheemaway (6) closed nicely in maiden start with a gutsy effort.  The extra distance today will help this guy. What better spot for horse and trainer to break their maidens. Okay, I’m going to say it; “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.”  You know you were thinking it.

Caleb’s Posse (7) – Really a strong performance in maiden win last out.   Connections must know a: 22 quarter here could spell trouble in deep stretch.   His sire Posse never won past seven furlongs. Impersonator (8) – Set up perfect for him to break maiden here a couple weeks ago. There’s a lot left in this Tale of the Cat’s son’s fuel tank, and he’ll need it to get away from this post. Owners Gary and Mary West have a lot of dead President’s invested here, so their hoping he’s got a reserve tank.

Wayne Catalano has three entered here, and with being in the money better than two thirds of the time you’ve got to play him. Impersonator edges out Rough Sailing, with Major Gain and Weekend Wildcat filling out the exotics.  Rick’s Picks: 8-2-3-5

My fondest memory of the Arlington Washington Futurity is seeing Street Sense dead heat for the win in this race in 2006 on his way to being the only colt to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and the Kentucky Derby.  At the time, I had no inkling that he would accomplish that double.  It is doubtful that the 2011 Derby winner is in this field, but I would have said exactly the same thing four years ago.

As a pedigree play I like Weekend Wildcat (5), a son of Lion Heart, and Major Gain (2), a son of More Than Ready, on the top of my tickets.  Last year the best horses in Wayne Catalano’s barn were owned by Gary and Mary West, so I expect that Impersonator (8) will compete well here.  My greatest concern is for his outside draw in this one-turn flat mile competition.  As Rick points out, it would be wise to get a couple of Catalano horses on our spread tickets so I’ll add Ghetto Cat (4) at the bottom.  Bob’s Picks:  5-2-8-4

Race 8, Arlington Park – Arlington Lassie G3, 1 mile for two-year-old fillies

Catalano is back with two more in the Lassie: Jordy Y (6) and Honey Chile (11).  Both look really good, especially the former.  Jordy Y is 2 for 2 with a maiden and optional claiming win.  She can set the pace or stalk, but she’s never been past 5 ½ furlongs.  Honey Chile won her debut with a speed figure of 72, which is the highest in the field.  Michael Stidham also has two in the race.  Summer Savory (7) was second in a maiden claiming, and Crepe Myrtle (8) broke her maiden in her second start at 1 1/16 miles.  She got there in the last jump.  Donnie Von Hemel has two as well.  Miss Inclined (4) broke her maiden in her second start at a mile on the turf, and Larue Lovelake (13) come in from Prairie Meadows where she was most recently a distant second against boys in a stake. 

James DiVito tops those trainers by bringing three to the gate.  Tellme All Aboutit (1) won her debut and was fifth on grass.  One Star (2) broke her maiden in her second try and was third in an optional claiming.  Third Chance (5) won her debut by six at five furlongs while pressing the pace.   

Edie (3) has been fourth twice.  Wonderlandbynight (9) has a win at Arlington and a stakes win at Woodbine, which makes her the most accomplished of the field.  Image of Grace (10) was third at Presque Isle Downs.  Songofthecity (12) has won two of three and will be trying Arlington for the first time. 

For the win I will go with Wonderlandbynight, who is the proven class.  She is technically undefeated, has experience, and should run well at this track after Woodbine.  She is versatile and last time she closed well into a slow pace. For second I’ll take Jordy Y.  She is two for two and is able to sit on or off the pace.  Her sire, Congrats, is doing quite well.  Third will be Tellme All Aboutit.  She will likely go right to the front and try to take them all the way.  Her loss was on turf, so she should appreciate the return to polytrack.  The track has been favoring speed lately and she could pull the upset.  For fourth I’ll give the nod to Honey Chile off her impressive debut.  If any scratch I would add Third Chance.  Kat’s Picks: 9-6-1-11

Third Chance (5) – Though she won handily at first asking here in early August, it was against state bred girls.  Trainer Jim DiVito is winning with 30 percent of his two year old stock and with three entered here she looks the fastest of the trio.   Crepe Myrtle (8) – Seemed like connections were ready to throw in the synthetic towel after her first effort, but rained off the turf in last proved otherwise.  Very nice distance score.  Having gone longer than anyone entered today, plus some nice workouts, you’ve got to keep her in the mix.

Wonderlandbynight (9) has been moving up the distance ladder rather nicely culminating with a solid stakes win at Woodbine.  She’s going to be a handful late so don’t ignore.   Songofthecity (12) is the first of two who’s raced and won at the open company level.  Though her open win came on the lawn, she’ll make the switch to Arlington’s main track just fine.   Jordy Y (6) – Trainer Wayne Catalano just keeps reloading, and he’s got himself one hot pistol here.  Impressive win at five and a half furlongs sets this girl up perfectly for her first distance try.  Unless she gets completely shut off at the quarter pole, she’ll run past these ladies.

I’m picking Jordy Y to handle this large field and put herself squarely on the national scene. Wonderlandbynight with her classy stakes score gets second, followed by Crepe Myrtle and Songofthecity.  Rick’s Picks: 6-9-8-12

Kat, Rick, and I all agree on the top two in this large field in the Lassie.  I think the daughter of Sky Mesa, Wonderlandbynight (9), will prevail over Jordy Y (6).  Miss Inclined (4) has won at the distance on turf, and this daughter of Pulpit should move back to synthetics without problem.  I’ll pick her third ahead of Third Chance (5).  Bob’s Picks:  9-6-4-5