To view the Chicago Handicap, click here.

by Patrick Reed

Augustin Stable’s Informed Decision set a contested pace through four furlongs but settled matters with an explosive burst at the top of the stretch to post a 4¾-length victory over Unforgotten in the $140,000 Chicago Handicap (G3) on Saturday at Arlington Park.

The four-year-old Monarchos filly covered seven furlongs in 1:21.49 on the synthetic Polytrack surface as the 1-to-5 favorite and picked up her fourth consecutive graded stakes victory.

Ridden by Julien Leparoux, Informed Decision broke sharply and went to the front but was quickly joined by multiple Canadian stakes winner Authenicat and set a pressured opening half-mile in :46.70. The pair continued well ahead of the pack into the stretch, where, upon Leparoux’s cue, Informed Decision effortlessly pulled away from Authenicat and continued unchallenged to the wire.

Stakes winner Unforgotten rallied from last in the six-horse field of fillies and mares to finish second, 1¼ lengths clear of a tiring Authenicat.

Informed Decision captured her first stakes victory in the Missile Belle Stakes at Belmont Park on September 20 for trainer Jonathan Sheppard. She has not been defeated since, winning the Lexus Raven Run Stakes (G2) at Keeneland Race Course in October and beginning a stellar 2009 campaign with back-to-back Grade 1 wins in the Vinery Madison Stakes over Ventura on April 4 at Keeneland and the Humana Distaff Stakes on May 2 at Churchill Downs.

Out of the winning His Majesty mare Palangana, Informed Decision improved her career record to eight wins in ten starts and boasts a perfect five-for-five record at seven furlongs. She has overall earnings of $811,617.

For an Equibase chart, click here.

Patrick Reed is a Thoroughbred Times contributing writer