NEWS
Rough Sailing tries Polytrack in Arlington-Washington Futurity
Posted: Wednesday, September 08, 2010 7:31 PM
by Pete Denk
Jack Smith Thoroughbreds’ Rough Sailing lived up to his name in his career debut at Arlington Park on August 8 and also hinted at major ability.
The Mizzen Mast colt, trained by Michael Stidham, is one of eight two-year-old colts and geldings who will be put to the test in the $100,000 Arlington-Washington Futurity (G3) at Arlington Park on Saturday.
After hopping at the start and checking back along the rail in his debut going one mile on the turf, Rough Sailing was in traffic for much of the race. But after jockey Michael Baze pulled him outside in mid-stretch, Rough Sailing exploded past seven horses and won going away by two lengths. He ran his final quarter mile on the soft turf in :23.92.
Unlike most of his competition in the Futurity, Rough Sailing is proven at the one-mile distance, but he will be making his first start on Arlington’s synthetic Polytrack surface.
The field’s only shipper—Mervin and Barbara McNamara’s Weekend Wildcat—also is the only horse in the field who has started outside the maiden ranks.
Weekend Wildcat broke his maiden in his second career start in a well-rated field at Churchill Downs on May 20. Three of the five horses who finished behind Weekend Wildcat came back to win in maiden special weight company.
He looks to rebound off a disappointing sixth in an allowance race at Woodbine on August 12.
Arlington also offers the $100,000 Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes (G3), which drew what appears to be a wide open 13-horse field.
Wonderlandbynight, an Illinois-bred filly by Sky Mesa, could be favored as she returns home after winning the $153,000 Ontario Debutante Stakes at Woodbine on August 14. Wonderlandbynight is trained by Michael Reavis for Mark Dedomenico.
Darrell and Evelyn Yates’ Jordy Y, a two-year-old Congrats filly trained by Wayne Catalano, is undefeated in two starts, including a victory against males in an optional claiming race at Arlington on August 1.
Catalano trained two of the last three Lassie winners, including last year’s eventual champion two-year-old filly She Be Wild.
Pete Denk is sales editor of Thoroughbred Times
READER COMMENTS
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Posted by: Pete, Lexington, KY on September 10, 2010 at 04:22 PM
Sherrif Cogburn is sitting out for undisclosed reasons. Perhaps he needed some time. Same ownership had Cactus Ridge, a brilliant two-year-old who got hurt.
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Posted by: Kaycee , Ludington, MI on September 09, 2010 at 11:43 PM
Go Impersonator!!!! His mom is a Michigan bred!!
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Posted by: Bill, Goshen, KY on September 09, 2010 at 08:03 AM
I liked the article. But where is Sherriff Cogburn? He looked like the horse to beat but did not enter? Would like to have heard why.
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