Solitary Ranger strikes in Arlington-Washington Futurity

Susan Moulton's Solitary Ranger put on a dominating performance while

breaking his maiden in Saturday's Grade 3, $150,000

Arlington-Washington Futurity at Arlington.

The Wayne Catalano charge broke sharply and was latched on to the outside of

pacesetter Lotsa Mischief, who led the field through strong opening fractions of

:22 4/5 and :46 2/5. Solitary Ranger started to wear down the leader on the far

turn and took over to post three-quarters in 1:11 4/5.

Eventual runner-up Whyruawesome attempted to launch bid at the top of the

stretch to pressure Solitary Ranger but got no closer than a half-length.

Solitary Ranger shook free from that rival and pulled away from the field to win

by 5 1/2 lengths.

The two-year-old colt crossed the wire in 1:38 for the one-mile test over the

Polytrack with Florent Geroux up. The 7-2 third choice paid his backers $9 to

win.

Whyruawsome got up for second while it was another 6 3/4 lengths back to

third-place finisher Cee 'n O. Captain's Affair, 3-1 favorite High Roll, Joedini

and Lotsa Mischief rounded out the order of finish. Gone Mountain and Mighty

Brown were both scratched.

Solitary Ranger made his racing debut on April 7 over Keeneland's Polytrack

finishing second. He tried to break his maiden at the end of the month at the

same venue but had to settle for second again to No Nay Never. That rival was

subsequently sent overseas and captured the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal

Ascot and Group 1 Prix Morny at Deauville.

A son of U S Ranger, Solitary Ranger is his sire's first stakes winner and

now has a career mark of 3-1-2-0 and $109,000 in lifetime earnings.

Bred in Kentucky by Richard Forbush and the U S Ranger Syndicate, Solitary

Ranger is out of the Lil E. Tee mare Galileo's Star. His second dam is June

Gale, who produced Grade 2-placed June's Reward as well as stakes scorer Thanks

Tissar. The dark bay's third dam is Sharyn Dear, who produced stakes winner

Currency Control.

Solitary Ranger sold as a yearling for $28,000 at the OBS August sale.

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