Block looking forward to American St. Leger with Ioya Bigtime, Suntracer

Block looking forward to American St. Leger with Ioya

Bigtime, Suntracer

Trainer Chris Block may be the pride of Champaign, Illinois, but he has also

been an extremely positive force among Arlington horsemen since his own career

began in 1989. The 45-year-old conditioner saddled a training double July 27 to

gain sole possession of fourth-place in Arlington's trainer standings, but Block

doesn't keep tabs on that sort of thing.

In fact, as the 2012 Arlington season progresses toward its one-day

International Festival of Racing centerpiece afternoon on August 18, Block

remains focused on the inaugural running of the $400,000 American St. Leger

Stakes that will be contested on that day. That's Arlington's newly created 1

11/16-mile marathon that will be grouped for the first time with Arlington's

troika of Grade 1 events -- the 30th anniversary edition of the Arlington

Million, the 22nd renewal of the $750,000 Beverly D. and the 36th running of the

$500,000 Secretariat Stakes.

"I think it's very important that the American St. Leger draw a lot of

interest from horsemen all over the world and that seems to be happening," Block

said. "North America has its own niche of marathon runners, but European-based

horses are more prone to marathon distances, so if we can get some European

trainers to show interest with their marathoners, they are more apt to bring

other horses along to compete in our Festival."

Block could show his own support for the American St. Leger with as many as

two contestants. He saddled the second Grade 3 Stars and Stripes winner of his

own career when Team Block's Ioya Bigtime captured the 2012 renewal of that 1

1/2-mile contest on July 14, and this year that traditional classic was placed

as an ideal prep race for the American St. Leger.

"Right now, with Ioya Bigtime we're going to see who else goes in there as

the race gets closer," Block said. "We're still not sure how far (Ioya Bigtime)

really wants to go, and of course we'd be asking him to go (three-sixteenths of

a mile) farther (in the American St. Leger). If we decide that more distance is

really his niche, we'll make the decision to run him at that time."

However, Team Block's Suntracer, who had somewhat fallen off the American St.

Leger radar of late after finishing third in the Stars and Stripes, has

reemerged as a possible starter in Arlington's upcoming marathon.

"We're strongly considering him for the (American St. Leger)," said Block of

Suntracer, who was beaten 1 3/4-lengths by Ioya Bigtime in the Stars and

Stripes. "We feel the (upcoming) added distance is something he can get and I

really believe his confidence is coming back."

Suntracer suffered an eye injury some time ago that Block believes affected

his ability to perform at his best, almost as if he were afraid of getting hurt

again.

"His eye is fine now," Block explained, "but we still keep the goggles on him

when he races because I think that helps him feel like he won't get hurt again.

In that last race he began to look like his old self and the American St. Leger

may be just the kind of race where he could show us exactly what his

capabilities might be. I don't think we've seen the best of him yet."

Incidentally, the Block-conditioned Mister Marti Gras, who is owned by

Lothenbach Stables and finished third in the Grade 3 Arlington Handicap on July

14 as the Arlington Million's designed prep, is not under consideration for the

2012 Million.

"We're saving Mister Marti Gras for the (Grade 3) Washington Park Handicap

(on) September 1," Block said.

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