NEWS
Original Spin stays undefeated in Arlington-Washington Lassie
Posted: Sunday, September 18, 2005
Russell L. Reineman Stable's Original Spin made a quantum leap from maiden winner to graded stakes victor on Sunday as she captured the $147,000 Arlington-Washington Breeders' Cup Lassie Stakes (G3) at Arlington Park.
The Lassie, a one-mile race on the main track for two-year-old fillies, saw a field of nine enter the starting gate after the scratches of both Lizzy's Township and More Than Pretty. Despite little to go on in the way of past performances for lightly raced juvenile fillies, the public settled solidly on Ex Caelis, sending the daughter of 2000 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Fusaichi Pegasus off at 1.10-to-1.
The Circle C Group Stable's filly won for the first time in her second start over a good track at Saratoga Race Course on August 21, but perhaps more intriguing to the fans was that she was in the barn of D. Wayne Lukas and that Racing Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens was in town for the ride.
Jazzy Okie and Gleaming Elegance vied for the early lead with Ex Caelis and Original Spin tracking those two. Turning for home, both leaders began to give way as Coolwind rallied from midpack to take a brief lead, only to be give way in the stretch as Original Spin and jockey Jesse Campbell angled out from the rail and pulled away to a 4 ¼-length win.
Ex Caelis, while no match for the winner, was one length clear of Coolwin at the wire. It was another three lengths back to Jazzy Okie. The winner covered the distance over a fast track in 1:35.93.
It was only the second start for Original Spin, who won at first asking in a maiden special weight event at Arlington Park on August 13, getting that six-furlong victory by one length in a comfortable 1:10.98. She now has earned $106,200 for her two trips to the post.
Trained by Anthony Mitchell, she was bred in Illinois by Charles Nuckols Jr. and sons. By Distorted Humor out of the Home At Last mare We Love Granny, she has no inbreeding through her first five crosses, and is a full sister to stakes winner Humor At Last.
See chart, courtesy of Equibase at http://www.equibase.com
