Arlington International Racecourse Barn Notes: Friday, August 17, 2018

By Ryan Martin —-

• Kentucky Downs on Horizon for Block Runners, New York Possible for Chatterpaul
• Carnival Colors Impresses Stidham in Maiden Victory
• Ageless Four Left Feet Secures Third Victory of Season

KENTUCKY DOWNS ON HORIZON FOR BLOCK RUNNERS, NEW YORK POSSIBLE FOR CHATTERPAUL

Following a fifth-place effort in the Grade I Secretariat Stakes at Arlington International Racecourse on August 11, Lothenbach Stables’ Captivating Moon will likely race in the $400,000 Exacta Systems Dueling Grounds Derby at Kentucky Downs on September 9.

Guided by Florent Geroux, the 3-year-old son of Malibu Moon tracked eighth in the race’s early stages and began making a powerful move down the top of the stretch, but could only get within 3¼ lengths of eventual winner Carrick.

“He ran really well,” Block said. “It would have been great to get third and I thought he was going to get there but he just got caught in the last couple of strides. But never fault his effort, he always gives 120 percent so I was very happy with it. Honestly, he’s just a cut below the better three-year-olds in the country. I think we’ll go for the [Dueling Grounds Derby] at Kentucky Downs.”

The Secretariat was the fourth graded stakes start for Captivating Moon this season. He finished second in the Grade III Transylvania Stakes at Keeneland Race Course on April 6, the Grade II American Turf Stakes at Churchill Downs on May 5 and the Grade III American Derby on July 7. In addition, the 1¼-miles event was also the seventh sophomore start for Captivating Moon. He won his 3-year-old debut in an allowance optional claiming race over the Tampa Bay Downs turf on February 7.

Joining Captivating Moon on a quest for a stakes victory at Kentucky Downs is stablemate Prado’s Sweet Ride who finished second in the Grade III Modesty Stakes behind multiple graded stakes winner Daddys Lil Darling. Owned by Darrell and Sadie Brommer, the 6-year-old daughter of Fort Prado will target the $250,000 One Dreamer Stakes on September 1. She has won four stakes in her 27-race career, including a win in the Grade III Regret Stakes at Churchill Downs during her 3-year-old season.

In other International Festival of Racing related news, Catcho En Die (ARG) – third via disqualification in the Arlington Million – exited the race in good order according to co-owner and trainer Naipaul Chatterpaul and is possible to race in the Grade I $1,000,000 Sword Dancer Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on August 25. The son of Catcher In The Rye (ARG) was fourth past the wire, but a claim of foul was launched by Catcho En Die’s rider Jose Valdivia, Jr. due to interference in the stretch caused by pacesetter Century Dream (IRE). The stewards allowed the objection and took down Century Dream, elevating Catcho En Die to third.

CARNIVAL COLORS IMPRESSES STIDHAM IN MAIDEN VICTORY

Godolphin’s Carnival Colors (GB) dazzled in her maiden special weight triumph on Thursday, August 16, which she won by 11½ lengths under jockey Mitchell Murrill.

The 2-year-old daughter of Distorted Humor stretched out to 1 1/16 miles for her maiden victory, where she broke from the ten hole. Murrill kept her at the back of the field and began making her move with little to no asking around the far turn. At the top of the stretch, victory was never in doubt as she crossed the wire under a hand ride.

The win came in the 2-year-old daughter of Distorted Humor’s second career start for trainer Michael Stidham. In her 5½ furlong career debut on July 27, she finished third behind Craft Show – a three-quarter sibling to Illinois-bred multiple Grade I winner Giant Oak. Carnival Colors has a royal pedigree herself as her dam is Grade I-placed Carnival Court – a half-sister to three-time Eclipse Award winner Royal Delta.

“She had shown us a lot of talent going into the first race,” Stidham said. “We felt like the stretch out was going to help her a lot and it really did. Her female family has a lot of distance and dirt, so most likely we would give her a try on the dirt at some point, but I’m not sure where she would run next.”

AGELESS FOUR LEFT FEET SECURES THIRD VICTORY OF SEASON

At age ten, Four Left Feet has continued to maintain a competitive nature as he won his third race of 2018 in the Thursday opener at Arlington International Racecourse.

Trained by owner Terry Young, the Illinois-bred son of Trippi has shown consistency in his five starts at 10-years-old having finished off the board only once this year. Thursday’s win was his 80th career start and his 13th trip to the winner’s circle. As a 3-year-old he won at stakes caliber when taking Hawthorne Race Course’s Lightning Jet Stakes on October 22, 2011.

“I’m feeding him extra with his social security check,” Young said. “He’s a pet of the barn and he’s the nicest horse you could possibly work around. He’s a little hard to train but we’ve had him long enough now that we know exactly what we need to do with him. One of these days he’s going to be my pony.”

Four Left Feet was bred in Illinois by Romance Dance Partnership. He boasts a career bankroll of $464,203.