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Gran Estreno repeats in Washington Park Feel the Thunder Stable's GRAN ESTRENO (Arg) (Lucky Roberto) captured the $120,000 Washington Park H. (G3) at Arlington for the second consecutive year on Saturday, rallying up the rail to the lead in deep stretch before prevailing by a half-length over Giant Oak (Giant's Causeway). The seven-year-old horse was content to trail while saving ground during the early stages, never more than four lengths back in the five-horse field, behind an early pace in :24 3/5, :48 3/5 and 1:12 4/5. He was forced to alter course in upper stretch, darting to the fence when pacesetter Mad Flatter (Flatter) drifted slightly out, and gamely out-finished that rival as well as Giant Oak on the far outside, and completed 1 3/16 miles Polytrack miles in 1:56 4/5 beneath Michael Baze. "He didn't break super sharp, but I got after him a little bit," Baze said. "It worked out good because if he had broken super sharp, I might have been four or five wide into the turn. I was fortunate to save ground all the way around there and get through on the rail." Trained by Michael Stidham, Gran Estreno paid $10.60, $3.20 and $2.40 as the 4-1 fourth choice. Giant Oak edged Mad Flatter by a neck and gave back $2.80 and $2.60 as the 3-2 favorite. Madd Flatter was off at 3-1 and returned $2.60. Elusive Beat (Elusive Quality) and Country Flavor (Empire Maker) rounded out the order of finish. Coolcullen Times (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar [Ire]) and Cure for Sale (Arg) (Not for Sale) were withdrawn. The exotics totaled $22.60 (exacta), $82.60 (trifecta) and $91.20 (2-6-5-3 superfecta). Bred in Argentina by Eduardo Carlos Luther, Gran Estreno is out of the Senor Pete mare Great Stampa. He captured the 2006 Grand Prix Jockey Club (Arg-G1) in his native land, but raced sparingly in the United States in 2007 and 2008. Dropped into the claiming ranks early last year, Gran Estreno was twice haltered for $20,000 at Gulfstream Park. The chestnut captured the Claiming Crown Emerald S. at Canterbury last July prior to his victory in the Washington Park, which capped a six-race win skein. Third in a turf allowance/optional claiming event in his previous start, Gran Estreno has now earned $467,235 from a 30-11-3-7 line.
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