NEWS
Mr. Nightlinger streaks into Arlington Sprint
Posted: Thursday, August 21, 2008 4:00 PM
MR. NIGHTLINGER
Photo by Z/Keeneland photo
by Mike Curry
Trainer Bret Calhoun switched Mr. Nightlinger to turf in April for a stakes race at Keeneland Race Course, and the four-year-old Indian Charlie colt has not been defeated since.
Mr. Nightlinger will attempt to extend his winning streak to five on Saturday against nine challengers in the $200,000 Arlington Sprint Handicap. The winner of the 5 1/2-furlong turf race earns a starting spot in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint on October 25 at Santa Anita Park as part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” series.
In 2007, Mr. Nightlinger placed in three stakes, including a third-place finish in the Lone Star Derby (G3). He finished fourth on grass in his third career start in March 2007, but did not make his second start on turf until this year when Calhoun entered him in the Shakertown Stakes (G3) on April 13 at Keeneland.
Mr. Nightlinger led at every call in the Shakertown en route to a 1 3/4-length score and has not been headed in three subsequent starts. He won the Aegon Turf Sprint Stakes (G3) on May 2 at Churchill Downs and a five-furlong allowance/optional claiming race on June 18, also on the turf at Churchill. Mr. Nightlinger enters the Arlington Sprint Handicap off a 3 1/4-length victory in the Taylor’s Special Stakes on the grass at Arlington.
Dhanyata (Ire), a four-year-old Danetime filly who is a Group 3 winner in Europe, enters off a third-place finish in the Chicago Handicap (G3) on the synthetic Polytrack surface at Arlington Park on June 28.
Other contenders include seven-year-old multiple graded stakes winner Fort Prado and multiple stakes winners Mighty Rule and Native Ruler.
Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor
The field, in post-position order, with (sire), jockey, weight, and trainer:
1. Starticus (Atticus), Junior Alvarado, 122, Ralph J. Biamonte, 9-to-2;
2. Fort Prado (El Prado [IRE]), Rene R. Douglas, 118, Chris M. Block, 8-to-1;
3. Native Ruler (Elusive Quality), Eusebio Razo, Jr., 122, Chris Richard, 20-to-1;
4. Prince Woodman (Woodman), Richard Migliore, 118, Richard A. Violette, Jr., 6-to-1;
5. Mighty Rule (Gilded Time), Christopher A. Emigh, 120, Christine K. Janks, 12-to-1;
6. Lovango (Capote), Dean P. Butler, 118, Hugh H. Robertson, 12-to-1;
7. Dhanyata [IRE] (Danetime [IRE]), Jose C. Ferrer, 113, Eddie Kenneally, 10-to-1;
8. Mr. Nightlinger (Indian Charlie), Jamie Theriot, 124, W. Bret Calhoun, 8-to-5;
9. Base Commander (Officer), Jesse M. Campbell, 118, Todd A. Pletcher, 10-to-1; and
10. John's Road (Runaway Groom), James Graham, 118, Thomas M. Amoss, 15-to-1.
