Rahystrada looks to Arlington Million; 'Hops hopes for Mid-America Triple

Trainer Byron "Scooter" Hughes, who saddled RAHYSTRADA (Rahy) to win

Saturday's Arlington H. (G3), was hauling that six-year-old gelding back

down the road to The Thoroughbred Center in Lexington, Kentucky, on

Sunday morning.

After accepting congratulations on Rahystrada's winning effort, the

57-year-old central Kentucky native answered the most obvious question:

would he be hauling Rahystrada back to Chicago for the August 21

Arlington Million (G1)?

"We're going to see how he comes out of his race yesterday for the

next few days and then take a look at the Million," Hughes said. "We're

certainly going to keep it on the front burner. I'm pretty excited about

that possibility after the way he ran yesterday."

Hughes has been around horses all his life, growing up in a family

that owned and operated Forest Retreat Farm near Paris, Kentucky, but

has been training horses on his own for about 20 years, including Seniga

(Military), who ran third behind Romacaca (Running Stag) in the Hatoof

S. on Arlington Million Day last summer.

Sheppard was not as happy with RAINBOW VIEW (Dynaformer), who crossed the

wire a lackluster fourth in Saturday's Modesty H. (G3), the final local prep for

the August 21 Beverly D. S. (G1).

"I was slightly disappointed with the way Rainbow View ran," Sheppard said of

the Augustin Stable colorbearer. "We were a little too far back early, and she

also showed a little mucous after the race. But we're still shooting for the

Beverly D. with her."

On Sunday morning, all indications were that TUSCAN EVENING (Ire) (Oasis

Dream [GB]) and ECLAIR DE LUNE (Ger) (Marchand de Sable), the respective top two

from the Modesty, would be pointed for a rematch in the 20th renewal of the

Beverly D.

Eclair de Lune is owned by Arlington chairman Richard Duchossois. The Beverly

D. is named in honor of his late wife.

Chief among North American-based grass-favoring sophomores standing in the

way of Workin for Hops' potential Triple Sweep is PADDY O'PRADO (El Prado

[Ire]), a dominant winner of Saturday's Virginia Derby (G2) at Colonial Downs.

Paddy O'Prado had defeated Workin for Hops in the June 19 Colonial Turf Cup (G2)

by three lengths.

Did Stidham watch Saturday's simulcast of the Virginia Derby?

"Yes I did, and I didn't like what I saw," said Stidham, obviously impressed

with the dominant performance by Workin for Hops' rival. "I have the ultimate

respect for Paddy O'Prado and the way he closed late yesterday over the Colonial

Downs course, but he'll still have to catch us over this turf course here."

MISTER MARTI GRAS (Belong to Me), runner-up in the American Derby at almost

20-1 in the wagering, had trainer Chris Block singing his gelding's praises

Sunday.