Arlington International Racecourse Barn Notes: Friday, September 14, 2018

By Ryan Martin —-

Big Drink of Water Likely for Synthetic Stakes at Presque Isle
Julio Felix Scores Thursday Hat Trick

BIG DRINK OF WATER LIKELY FOR SYNTHETIC STAKES AT PRESQUE ISLE

Patricia’s Hope LLC’s Big Drink of Water, winner of the $75,000 Arlington-Washington Futurity last Saturday, is likely to target another all-weather stakes event next out in the $100,000 Fitz Dixon, Jr. Memorial Juvenile Stakes at Presque Isle Downs on October 4.

Conditioned by Arlington International Racecourse’s five-time and current leading trainer Larry Rivelli, Big Drink of Water was privately purchased by his owners following a victory in the Victoria Stakes at Woodbine Racetrack on July 14. He was previously owned by Endeavor Bloodstock and trained by Teresa Connelly. The Florida-bred freshman son of Soldat broke his maiden over the Polytrack at Presque Isle three starts back at second asking. He is an undefeated three-for-three over synthetic surfaces.

“He came out [of the Futurity] really good,” Rivelli said. “I took him to the track a couple of days after the race and he looked as good as he did going in. We’ll run at Presque Isle and then go from there. We’ll maybe try him on the turf at Keeneland or Churchill after that.”

Rivelli did not rule out aiming Big Drink of Water toward the inaugural running of the $1,000,000 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs on November 2, and stated the gelding could also target the $200,000 Indian Summer Stakes at Keeneland Race Course, which is a 5½ furlong turf sprint for 2-year-olds and a “Win and You’re In” event for the Juvenile Turf Sprint.

JULIO FELIX SCORES THURSDAY HAT TRICK

Jockey Julio Felix enjoyed a successful day on Thursday afternoon at Arlington International Racecourse when taking home three winners on the card with Can’t Stop the Cat ($7.40) in the third race, then securing the late daily-double with And Won ($13.60) and Rain Expression ($9.60).

“There was a lot of speed in the (last) race,” Felix said. “I thought it would be a tough one to win, but after you win one or two you get in the zone and it’s like you can’t do anything wrong, so the last one came pretty easy. I’m feeling pretty good. Too bad the meet is finishing up and coming to an end; this is one of my favorite tracks of all time, right here.”

His first winner of the day was Illinois-bred maiden Can’t Stop the Cat who romped by 13¾ lengths in his career debut for trainer Don Bentler.

“He can really run,” Felix said about the son of Run Away and Hide. “He was just looking around; he was real quiet. What I like about him is his class. He didn’t break too sharp because he’s so big and this was the first time he had been to the track. Now that he’s got a race under his belt and he’s figured it out, I think he could be a real nice horse.”

Felix has enjoyed a steady 2018 season at the Chicagoland oval with 47 wins from 315 starts, finishing in the money at a 43% clip. Earlier in the meet, he captured his 3,000th career victory. Felix is currently tied for third with Sophie Doyle in the jockey standings at Arlington.