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ARLINGTON NOTEBOOK JUNE 30, 2010 by David Zenner Road to Breeders' Cup World Championships start at Arlington Park The North American road to the Breeders' Cup World Championships officially got underway last Saturday at Arlington Park when Carl Moore Management's CHAMBERLAIN BRIDGE (War Chant) posted a 4 1/2-length win in the $118,000 Arlington Sprint S. Jamie Theriot was aboard the Bret Calhoun-trained gelding, who covered the 5 1/2 furlongs over "yielding" turf in 1:03.66. Sitting just off an opening quarter of :22.24 set by Bullet from Abroad (Red Bullet), Chamberlain Bridge tipped three wide entering the stretch and took the lead midstretch before drawing off for the decisive victory. "He broke sharply and put me in good stalking position," Theriot said. "It was just a matter of time. The last couple of times he's run, he's stayed right off the pace and hasn't shown all the speed he has in the past. It doesn't matter as long as he's somewhere in the race, he's pretty much okay with it." The Arlington Sprint represented the six-year-old's 13th win in 27 trips to the post. He added $75,000 to his bankroll, which now stands at $781,445, but more importantly, he earned an automatic starting berth in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G2), which will be run at five furlongs over the Matt Winn Turf Course at Churchill Downs this November. "We got him into these five- (and 5 1/2)-furlong turf races and he really enjoys it," Calhoun assistant "Peaches" Geier said. "I hope he can keep it going. We've got two more races and then the Breeders' Cup." The following morning, Calhoun elaborated on Chamberlain Bridge’s road to Louisville. “Right now the plan is to run him in a race at Penn National July 31 ($200,000 Pennsylvania Governor's Cup H. at five furlongs on the grass), and then take him to Philadelphia Park for a turf race they have up there September 6 ($250,000 Turf Monster at five furlongs)," he explained. "After that, there's a turf sprint scheduled at Keeneland for early October and then hopefully that will take us into the Breeders' Cup race in November at Churchill." Races with Breeders' Cup implications continue at Arlington as soon as this Sunday when defending Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) heroine Informed Decision (Monarchos) is expected to defend her title in the Chicago H. (G3). Racing secretary Chris Polzin assigned her 124 pounds for the seven-furlong affair that will headline the July 4 holiday program. Three more Breeders' Cup Challenge races remain on the Arlington docket -- the Arlington Million (G1), which will award its winner a berth in the $3 million Breeders' Cup Turf (G1); the Beverly D. S. (G1), whose winner will get a spot in the $2 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1); and the Washington Park H. (G3), which will award its victor a spot in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). HORSES TO WATCH Saturday (6/26) 7TH -- SOUL COAXING (Sunday Break [Jpn]) hopped at the start and then exchanged bumps with a rival. Steadied on the turn and once clear he did close for a minor award. Sunday (6/27) 9TH -- HARDWICKE HALL (Greatness), a first-time starter, found herself battling for the lead through a quick opening quarter, had her saddle slip and yet was still able to put away her rival before being overtaken late by the winner. Graduates with a clean trip next out.
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