Upperline scores in Arlington Matron

by Brisnet.com

Stone Farm, John H. Adger, Oakcrest Farm and trainer Michael Stidham's

Upperline was content to stalk the early pace set by Hooh Why in Saturday's

Grade 3, $150,000

Arlington Matron over the Polytrack at Arlington Park, but asserted her

authority in the lane to take over and draw off for a four-length win. Jockey

James Graham had piloting duties aboard the Maria's Mon mare, and the duo

completed 1 1/8 miles in 1:51 3/5 to return $5.80, $3.80 and $2.60.

Hooh Why led the way on the backstretch through splits of :24 2/5, :48 3/5

and 1:13 3/5 while Sea Level Drive kept pace just off her flank. Kathmanblu ran

in tandem with Upperline as Graham settled his 9-5 favorite down on the rail

behind Hooh Why. The quartet maintained their positions until reaching the final

turn, when Ariana D ran up to the outside of Sea Level Drive.

It was three across the track as Hooh Why hit the lane, but Graham kept

Upperline on the inside as Sea Level Drive began backing up. The savvy rider

angled his mount off the rail and sent her after Hooh Why, and the bay mare

easily reeled in the pacesetter to grab command and pull away.

Hooh Why held well to take second by 1 3/4 lengths over Ariana D, while

Hemera came with a game late run to fill the fourth spot. La Gran Bailadora,

second in last year's running of the Arlington Matron, was next, while Sea Level

Drive and Kathmanblue completed the order under the wire.

Upperline easily avenged her fourth-placing in last season's Arlington Matron

with this win, which improved her scorecard to 20-8-4-2, $585,308. The bay

five-year-old has been a hard-knocking sort, racking up wins in the Grade 3

Bewitch Stakes, Grade 3 Arlington Oaks, Trillium Stakes, Bayou Handicap and

Allen LaCombe Memorial Handicap during her four seasons on track. She also

boasts five black-type placings on her resume, including the Grade 2 Golden Rod

and Grade 3 Herecomesthebride Stakes.

Bred in Kentucky by Stonerside Stable, Upperline is out of the Irish-bred

Caerleon mare Snowflake, who ran second in the Group 1 Nassau Stakes in 2001,

and has a stakes-winning four-year-old half-sister named Snow Fall. The

siblings' second dam is the Reference Point mare Ivyanna, who captured the Group

1 Oaks d'Italia in 1992.

This black-type rich female line also includes Grade 1 scorer An Act and

Group 2 victor Distinction, who placed in two editions of the Group 1 Gold Cup.

Upperline's fourth dam is noted matron Durga.

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