by Mike Curry

Coragil Cat unleashed an explosive turn of foot in the stretch to open a commanding lead and cruised to a three-length win in the $100,000 Hanshin Cup Handicap (G3) on Saturday at Arlington Park.

Coragil Cat was rated in seventh under jockey Diego Sanchez as 2007 Hanshin Cup winner Spotsgone set a swift pace through an opening quarter in :22.96 and a half-mile in :45.56 in the one-mile race on Arlington’s all-weather Polytrack surface.

Stonehouse, Steve’s Double, and 6-to-5 favorite Lovango stalked Spotsgone into the final turn and the pacesetter began to weaken approaching the stretch. Lovango seized command briefly but Coragil Cat closed with a rush and swept to the lead with a powerful move in early stretch.

Sent off at 11.10-to-1,Coragil Cat completed one mile in 1:34.86 to earn his second stakes win for owner-breeder Jim Tafel. He entered off a track-record setting win in the Timeless Native Stakes on May 3 at Arlington, where he covered one mile in 1:33.55.

Morada Key finished second at 39.10-to-1 odds with Steve’s Double another two lengths back in third. Lovango flattened out in the stretch and finished a nonthreatening fourth. Multiple Grade 3 winner Fort Prado finished sixth and Spotsgone faded to last in the eight-horse field.

Out of the stakes-placed Metfield mare Coragil, Coragil Cat is a half brother to Grade 2 winner Softly. He improved to four wins in 24 starts and boosted his earnings to $170,075.

Much Obliged reeled in Scolara in the closing strides to win the $200,000 American One Thousand Guineas by a half-length. Trained by Malcolm Pierce for owner-breeder Pin Oak Stable, the Kingmambo filly won for the third time in four starts this season and earned her first career stakes win as the 2.60-to-1 favorite under Chris Emigh.

Meal Penalty set an uncontested pace in his turf debut in the $150,000 Arlington Classic Stakes and held off fast-finishing Prime Realestate to prevail by three-quarters of a length for trainer Todd Pletcher and owners Sassafras Racing and Gulf Coast Farms.

For Equibase charts, click here.

Mike Curry is Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor