BANDUA SETS NEW TRACK RECORD IN GIII ARLINGTON HANDICAP VICTORY

By Grant LaGrange —-

Photos provided by Arlington Park

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (July 11, 2019) –

Bandua put in a track record breaking performance on Saturday at Arlington International Racecourse when he won the GIII Arlington Handicap in a final time of 1:53.16. Ten others lined up to face Bandua over the Arlington turf course going 1 3/16th miles on the Saturday feature.

Owned by Calumet Farm and trained by Jack Sisterson, Bandua broke well from post one and sat second behind the pace setting El Picaro who went a first quarter mile in: 23.27. Down the backstretch, the field began to string out as Bandua and El Picaro began to separate themselves from the others in a half-mile time of: 47.80. At the top of the stretch, jockey Adam Beschizza drew alongside the longtime leader and ran right by to power home for a 1 ¾ length victory in a track record breaking 1:53.16.

Bandua was exiting what was one of the most competitive turf races in North America this year in the GI Manhattan at Belmont Park.

“He’s a straightforward horse, he’s never shown a loss of heart and the class relief today helped him a lot,” said jockey Adam Beschizza who had previously been on Bandua for 5 of his 7 American races.

“Every race we’ve ran him in we’ve had a lot of confidence in him,” trainer Jack Sisterson explained. “This horse was training unbelievably, he deserves this win.”

Bandua, who usually finds himself on or head to head for the lead, rated behind the leader today and had plenty left for the stretch drive,

“I said Adam, you ride him like you own him, and that’s what he did it was a picture perfect ride,” Sisterson said.

The Arlington Handicap was the first graded stakes victory for the son of The Factor, and was his first win in North America. Trainer Jack Sisterson plans to aim Bandua for the GI Arlington Million on August 10.

Bandua paid $5.20, $3.60, and $3.00 for his winning effort. Second was The Great Day who paid $4.80 to place and $4.20 to show. Third was #6 Captivating Moon who paid $4.80 to show.