Tally Up takes off-the-turf Paradise Creek

Nancy Vanier and Cartwright Thoroughbreds' TALLY UP (Service Stripe) set a

pressured pace en route to a half-length victory in Monday's $42,000

Paradise Creek S. The contest for sophomores was transferred from the turf

to Arlington Park's sloppy track because of persistent rain. In addition to the

surface switch, the distance was also changed, from the original 1 1/16 miles to

1 1/8 miles. The winner's final time was 1:50 1/5.

With Chris Emigh in the irons, the Brian Williamson-trained Tally Up

maintained a half-length lead through splits of :24 3/5 and :49 1/5 while

hounded by Charley Tango (Maria's Mon). That rival put his head in front through

three-quarters in 1:14 1/5, but Tally Up roared back and opened up by two

lengths in the stretch. The 8-5 favorite Like an Eagle (Victory Gallop) uncorked

a strong late run to narrow the margin, but couldn't catch the winner and had to

settle for runner-up honors. It was another 3 1/4 lengths back to Charley Tango

in third.

Chin High (Smart Strike) checked in another 6 1/4 lengths adrift in fourth,

followed by Mr Playwright (Vaudeville) and Reverential (Holy Bull). There was

the usual bevy of scratches when the race came off the turf, with morning-line

favorite Creative Force (Red Ransom), American Diva (Quiet American), Bahri and

Grill (Bahri) and The Word Is Out (Lexicon) all withdrawing.

Sent off as the 3-1 third choice, Tally Up returned $8, $3.40 and $2.60 while

keying exotics worth $16.60 (exacta), $44.60 (trifecta) and $129.20 (2-10-9-3

superfecta).

Tally Up was bred by Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Vanier in Illinois. Out of stakes

winner Miss Delovely (Lord At War [Arg]), the three-year-old chestnut colt is a

half-brother to stakes-placed Barrel Racer (Western Playboy), as well as an

unnamed yearling filly by Our Emblem and a 2006 colt by Maria's Mon.

Successful in the Springfield S. for state-breds in June, Tally Up was

recording his first stakes tally in open company. His record now reads 12-4-1-1

with $144,441 in earnings.