Arlington Notebook

ARLINGTON NOTEBOOK

SEPTEMBER 9, 2010

by David Zenner

Two-year-olds of both sexes take the spotlight Saturday at Arlington Park

with the 76th edition of the $100,000 Arlington-Washington Futurity (G3) and the

76th edition of the the $100,000 Arlington-Washington Lassie (G3) sharing top

billing on the nine-race card. Each of these prominent fixtures on the racing

calendar will be contested at one mile on Polytrack.

An overflow field of 13 two-year-old fillies were entered for the Lassie, a

race captured last year by eventual Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) heroine

and divisional champion She Be Wild (Offlee Wild).

Wayne Catalano, who saddled She Be Wild to take last year's Lassie, has two

fillies entered for this year's renewal -- JORDY Y (Congrats) and HONEY CHILE

(Invisible Ink). The former is two-for-two here while the latter won her only

start on August 19. Junior Alvarado has the mount aboard Jordy Y and Michael

Baze is listed on Honey Chile.

WONDERLANDBYNIGHT (Sky Mesa) comes into the Lassie off an impressive victory

in the $150,000 Ontario Debutante at Woodbine on August 14. The Mike

Reavis-trained Illinois-bred rallied from mid-pack to win that 6 1/2-furlong

test over Polytrack by 1 3/4 lengths. Prior to that, she officially broke her

maiden over the Arlington strip on June 27 and has since been credited with a

victory in her career debut when racing against male rivals on June 4. E.T.

Baird has the call Saturday.

THIRD CHANCE (Kafwain) is another Illinois-bred filly coming off a visually

impressive victory, a six-length tally in her lone start on August 6. Shane

Sellers has been named to ride one of three horses trained by Jim DiVito to be

entered in the Lassie.

Trainer Donnie Von Hemel also has two entered for the Lassie. LARUE LOVELAKE

(Friends Lake) was second in her last start to Sherriff Cogburn (Vindication)

when racing against male rivals in the $60,000 Prairie Meadows Juvenile Mile,

while MISS INCLINED (Pulpit) was a maiden winner on turf on August 26. Quincy

Hamilton has the mount aboard Larue Lovelake while Eddie Razo Jr. is slated to

ride Miss Inclined.

IMPERSONATOR (Tale of the Cat) should vie for favoritism in the Futurity,

which drew a field of eight colts and geldings. He broke his maiden at second

asking, winning a seven-furlong dash at Arlington on August 22. Previously, the

Wayne Catalano trainee bobbled at the break and finished third in his bow on

July 15. Chris Emigh has a return call in the Futurity.

Catalano also sends out MAJOR GAIN (More Than Ready) and GHETTO CAT (Forest

Wildcat) for the Futurity. The former ran second to CALEB'S POSSE (Posse) in his

only start while the latter scored a one-length victory in his lone start.

Junior Alvarado is named aboard Major Gain and Ghetto Cat will be ridden by

James Graham.

Caleb's Posse broke his maiden in his second start on August 14 after

finishing second to Sherriff Cogburn in his debut the previous month. Trained by

Donnie Von Hemel, he will be ridden by Quincy Hamilton who returns from his

Oklahoma base to take the assignment Saturday.

HORSES TO WATCH

Friday (9/3)

7TH -- MIAMI ICE (Hold That Tiger) raced into traffic in the stretch but was

still able to gain a share.

Saturday (9/4)

1ST -- LAUGHTER'S JOY (Heckle) broke inward and then lacked a path in the

stretch before finding a seam along the rail late.

3RD -- MASTER SERGEANT (Thunder Gulch) forced to circle five wide into the

stretch.