Arlington International Racecourse Barn Notes: Friday, August 18

By Bailey Gallison —-

· Oscar Performance Writes Part for Breeders’ Cup Sequel
· Valdivia Scores 100th Win of the Season Thursday

OSCAR PERFORMANCE WRITES PART FOR BREEDERS’ CUP SEQUEL

Amerman Racing’s homebred Oscar Performance cemented his standing as one of the top 3-year-olds in training with an unshakable victory in the Grade I Secretariat Stakes at Arlington International Racecourse on Aug. 12. The Brian Lynch-trained son of Kitten’s Joy recreated his run in the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, stalking the early pacesetter for the first mile before taking the lead and kicking clear of the field to win by 2¼ lengths under regular rider Jose Ortiz. Oscar Performance extended his number of wins to six from just nine lifetime starts with career earnings of $1,737,632.

“He’s back at Belmont and doing well,” said Lynch the week following the race. “Thanks again to Arlington for all the wonderful hospitality. We’re seriously considering running him in the Joe Hirsch [Turf Classic] at a mile and a half against older horses next.”

The Grade I Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont Park on Sept. 30 could be a stepping-stone to the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Turf on Nov. 4 at Del Mar, not only for Oscar Performance but also 2017 Arlington Million winner Beach Patrol, who has yet to race beyond 1 3/8 miles. Run at a distance of 1½ miles on the grass, the Joe Hirsch has proven a successful preparation for winners English Channel (2007) and Main Sequence (2014) who both went on to victory in the Breeders’ Cup Turf the same year.

“I think it will be a good test for him before the Breeders’ Cup, since we’ll have to decide if we want to try the Turf or Turf Mile,” said Lynch. “At Del Mar, with the tight turns the Mile will be a jockey’s race, see who can get position early. From what he’s shown us, the longer distance shouldn’t be a problem. We’ve seen he doesn’t really need the lead.”

Oscar Performance entered the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf last year with only one graded-stakes win on his resume, which came at Belmont in the Grade III Pilgrim Stakes one month prior. Racing outside of New York for the first time, and at a shorter distance than any of his previous starts, Oscar Performance used his tactical speed to gain position from post 13 and stalked the pacesetter through quick early fractions. Jose Ortiz, aboard Oscar Performance for all of his wins, asked the Lasix-free runner to take over the lead on the turn and was answered immediately as the ridgling opened up on the field to win by 1¼ lengths at Santa Anita.

Bred in Kentucky by his owners, the multiple Grade I-winner has drawn off in both of his most recent races, the Secretariat and the Belmont Derby in July, over a distance of 1¼-miles while facing straight 3-year-olds. His sire, Kitten’s Joy, is the only horse to have ever won both the Secretariat and the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic in the same year.

VALDIVIA SCORES 100TH WIN OF THE SEASON THURSDAY

Leading rider at Arlington International Racecourse Jose Valdivia, Jr. bested his previous win record for a season at the Chicagoland oval when he captured his 100th victory on just the 51st day of the 71-card meeting. Piloting Patricia’s Hope LLC’s Cadet Captain ($4.40) for trainer Larry Rivelli in the fifth race, Valdivia navigated the 7-year-old Illinois-bred son of Tale of the Cat to their shared fourth victory in a row at Arlington.

“It’s a blessing,” said Valdivia. “I never thought of putting a number out there – I’m shocked even after the slow weeks we’ve had that we’ve been able to get so many wins. It’s a credit to everyone who puts me on their horses. Every winner from here on out is icing on the cake.”

It was the second of three wins on the day’s card for Valdivia, who took the opener for Rivelli aboard V-Leaf Stables LLC, Richard Ravin and Rivelli’s What’s Up Dude ($3.60) and earned his 101st victory in the seventh race for trainer Tony Granitz on his filly Hide and Street ($4.80). Valdivia earned 80 wins as leading jockey in 2015 before finishing the 2016 season at the top of the standings with 100.