Arlington International Racecourse Barn Notes: Thursday, June 21, 2018

By Ryan Martin —-

• Grade I Winner Union Strike Makes Comeback in Chicago Handicap
• Motion Considers Grade I Arlington Million for Spring Quality

GRADE I WINNER UNION STRIKE MAKES COMEBACK IN CHICAGO HANDICAP

Owner and trainer Mick Ruis has his eyes set on Saratoga with Grade I winner Union Strike, who will be using Saturday’s Grade III $100,000 Chicago Handicap as a prep for stakes action at the Spa.

The 4-year-old daughter of Union Rags has not raced since a seventh-place effort in the Grade II La Canada Stakes at Santa Anita this past January, where she finished 5½ lengths behind Mopotism. Ruis had considered taking the filly to Belmont Park for the Grade III Bed o’ Roses, but felt that she needed an extra week of training. She has been breezing at Keeneland for the past couple months. Her most recent move was a half-mile work in 48.80 over the Lexington main track.

A victory in the Grade I Del Mar Debutante has been the highlight of Union Strike’s eight-race career, which place when under the care of Ruis’s daughter Shelbe Ruis. Her only other victory took place in her 2017 season debut in the Santa Paula Stakes at Santa Anita. As a 3-year-old, she was second beaten a nose to Benner Island in the Grade II Eight Belles Stakes at Churchill Downs before running fifth in the Grade I Acorn Handicap at Belmont Park. It was in this race where she developed a foot injury that forced her out of training.

“Before the La Canada she was battling foot problems,” Ruis said. “After the Acorn she needed eight months to improve. The race before that, the Santa Paula, she won really easily so we were looking forward to a good race in the Acorn but she lost the front part of her foot. It took a while for it to grow back. Everything seems to be good now.”

Union Strike will emerge from post two for the Chicago Handicap under jockey Corey Nakatani. She was a $375,000 purchase from the Ocala Breeders Sale’s Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale in April 2016 from Old South Farm’s consignment operation.

MOTION CONSIDERS GRADE I ARLINGTON MILLION FOR SPRING QUALITY

Last year, trainer Graham Motion sent Ascend to the Grade I Arlington Million following an upset victory in Belmont Park’s Grade I Woodford Reserve Manhattan Stakes and will likely do the same this year with Spring Quality.

Owned by Augustin Stable, the 6-year-old son of leading Grade I sire Quality Road scored a victory in the Manhattan at 18-1 odds defeating a competitive field that included last year’s Arlington Million winner Beach Patrol.

“He ran such a big race going a mile and a quarter in the Manhattan so it makes the most sense to give him another try in a million-dollar race at the distance,” Motion said.

Never worse than fifth in 11 career starts, Spring Quality also owns stakes victories in last year’s Robellino Stakes at Penn National as well as the Grade III Red Smith Handicap at Aqueduct. In the Manhattan, Spring Quality came from well off the pace which was a bit of a change in tactics from his usual running style where he would sit right off the pace.

“I think he is adaptable from a pace standpoint,” Motion said. “The difference being when he ran in the Manhattan he had sort of a lousy post (13). For that reason, Edgar [Prado] had to ride him a bit differently.”

Last year, Ascend ran once in between the Manhattan Handicap and Arlington Million when he ran in the Grade II Bowling Green Handicap at Saratoga, where he finished fifth. Motion said that Spring Quality would likely train up to the Million should he chose to run there.

“Both horses I’ve had to be a little patient with but talent wise they’re very similar,” Motion said.

Motion went on to say that Just Howard is a possibility for the Grade III $100,000 Arlington Handicap. Owned by Skeedattle Associates, Maryland-bred son of English Channel won three stakes events at Laurel Park last year, including the Grade III Commonwealth Derby. The 4-year-old colt finished third in the Grade III Dixie Stakes at Pimlico in his most recent outing.