Arlington Park Notebook

ARLINGTON NOTEBOOK

JUNE 2, 2010

by David Zenner

With a month of the 2010 Arlington meet in the books, the battle lines have

been drawn in the jockey and trainer races.

Eight-time champion trainer Wayne Catalano holds a slight edge over Nick

Canani, who trains for Catalano's former main client Frank Calabrese. Through

May 31, "Cat" holds a 16-15 lead over Canani with the increasingly powerful

Larry Rivelli just one more winner back with 14.

The jockey race is also tight with defending titlist Junior Alvarado leading

newcomer Michael Baze 29-25 through the Memorial Day holiday.

The two races are intertwined since Catalano/Baze have combined for 14 wins,

the same number of victories posted by the Canani/Alvarado tandem.

Another tandem to pay close attention to is Rivelli/Jerry LaSala, who have

gone four for nine.

The jockey race could have taken a different turn Monday morning though when

Baze was tossed during training hours.

"I was getting ready to work a horse," Baze explained later Monday.  "I

was backing the horse up and I turned around to start going off in the right

direction and the horse started going to the outside fence. I'm trying to pull

him away from it but he just keeps going right for it -- sideways. He has his

head turned to the side and he just went for it so far and hit it, that he went

over it himself. I ended up going over the outside fence and hitting the pieces

of wood (between the outer rail of the Polytrack and the apron). I ended up

crawling back onto the track because he was running loose in that area. 

"I don't remember it too well but Quincy (Hamilton, who was getting ready to

work another horse) said when I hit the rail, I got some air. I guess I hit it

pretty good but nothing's broken."

Taken to a nearby hospital to be checked out, it was just assumed that the

rider would at minimum be off his mounts for the Memorial Day holiday card but

Baze had other ideas. Checked out and cleared to ride, Baze was back at the

track by 10:30 a.m. (CDT), asking to be put back on his mounts. With medical

clearance in hand, his wish was granted and he went out and picked up a victory

on the card.

Inez gets Graded

Inez Karlsson picked up the first graded stakes race victory of her career on

May 29 when she guided Jim Tafel's COUNTRY FLAVOR (Empire Maker) to win the

Hanshin Cup (G3) for trainer Greg Geier.

The win was also the 400th of her brief career.

HORSES TO WATCH

Friday (5/28)

6TH -- CLEAN SHOT (Wagon Limit) was fanned five-wide in the stretch which

likely cost him the place. Fits back at the same n1x condition, especially at 6

1/2 or seven furlongs.

Saturday (5/30)

9TH -- SOUTHERN WONDER (Chicago Six) was bumped at the start but rallied to

get up for second. Probably wasn't going to be a match for the winner even with

a clean break, but closed well when speed seemed to be holding the upper hand.

Monday (5/31)

7TH -- DANCING DEMONETTE (Pleasant Tap) closed well on a track playing to

speed and finished second to a first-timer that got out to an easy lead. Should

graduate next out.