GHOST HUNTER HEADS FIELD OF TEN IN GRADE III HANSHIN CUP

By Bailey Gallison —-


ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (May 10, 2018) – Triple K Stables and Jagger Inc.’s Ghost Hunter makes a return to Arlington International Racecourse in the 66th running of the Grade III $100,000 Hanshin Cup on Saturday, May 12. The Jamie Ness-trained 8-year-old son of Ghostzapper finished third in the 2017 edition before going on to win the Grade III Arlington Handicap later that summer.

“We got in a lot of trouble and got a bad trip last year in the Hanshin, so we’re back again trying to redeem ourselves,” Ness said. The trainer will also try adding blinkers to Ghost Hunter’s equipment as the graded-stakes winner starts from the rail under jockey Edwin Gonzalez.

“The change in equipment is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. Ghost Hunter is a little bit of a funny horse. He likes to look around a lot when he’s running. [With blinkers] he’ll focus more in front of him rather than around him. I’m not looking for him to show more speed.”

Sure to show speed will be Carolyn Wilson’s Wellabled for trainer Larry Rivelli. Breaking from gate five with Jose Valdivia, Jr. in the saddle, the 4-year-old colt by Shackleford will be making his first start at Arlington since winning the Grade III Arlington-Washington Futurity in 2016.

“I’ve been pointing him for this race,” Rivelli said. “He’s a better horse on the Polytrack, and the distance won’t be an issue. He’s ready.”

Dundalk 5 LLC’s 2017 Hanshin Cup winner Crewman will be piloted by C. H. Marquez, Jr. from post six for trainer Dee Poulos, who notched her first graded stakes win with the victory last season. Breaking from gate eight, William Stiritz’s Goneghost will get Chris Emigh in the saddle as the Scott Becker trainee tries for his first graded stakes triumph. Wesley Ward will leg up Corey Nakatani on multiple-stakes winner Master Merion, who draws post nine for owners Vivienne Day and Kate V. Rose.

Matrooh (Santo Sanjur, post two), Christian C (Mitchell Murrill, post three), Great Wide Open (IRE) (Channing Hill, post four), Harmac (James Graham, post seven), and Western Elegance (Jose Lopez, post ten) complete the entries.

Arlington International Racecourse – the Chicago area’s premier Thoroughbred racetrack located in Arlington Heights, Ill. – will run a 71-day meet in 2018 from May 4 through September 22. Arlington International Racecourse, whose parent company is Churchill Downs Incorporated (Nasdaq: CHDN), also operates 10 off-track, simulcast-wagering facilities in Aurora, Chicago, Hoffman Estates, Waukegan, Villa Park, Rockford, Hodgkins, McHenry, Green Oaks and Orland Hills. Arlington International Racecourse is a proud member of America’s Best Racing. Information on Arlington International Racecourse and Trackside OTB can be found online at www.arlingtonpark.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/arlingtonpark and www.facebook.com/tracksideotb, and on Twitter at @Arlington_Park for the latest happenings, @ArlingtonRacing for the latest racing news and @TracksideOTB for all things pertaining to off-track wagering.
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