FAST AND ACCURATE TOPS GRADE III ARLINGTON CLASSIC

By Brian Spencer —-

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (May 25, 2017) – The 82nd running of the Grade III $100,000 Arlington Classic drew a field of 10 colts and geldings for Saturday’s feature race going 1 1/16 miles over the turf at Arlington International Racecourse, including Grade III Spiral Stakes-winner Fast and Accurate. A winner on the grass when going 7½ furlongs in the Sage of Monticello Stakes at Gulfstream Park in February, the recent Kentucky Derby participant will be saddled by Mike Maker for Kendall Hansen et al. in his second start over turf. Channing Hill will stay aboard to guide the colt from post six.

Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey’s homebred Gorgeous Kitten was a winner for Maker when routing on the grass last month in an allowance race at Keeneland, beating fellow Arlington Classic entrants Giant Payday (Chris Landeros, post nine) and Don’t Split Tens (Jose Valdivia, Jr., post 10). Chris Emigh will ride the stakes-placed Gorgeous Kitten from post three, while the final Maker-trainee in the field, Three Diamond’s farm Prize Fight will break from the rail with Santo Sanjur in the irons. The Florida-bred gelding broke his maiden routing on the grass at Gulfstream on Feb. 12 at the same distance as the Arlington Classic, then finished third in the Sophomore Turf Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs two starts later.

Brad Cox trainee Cowboy Culture found the winner’s circle at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots over the winter in the Keith Gee Memorial Stakes going a mile on the turf for owners Head of Plains Partners and Cheyenne Stables. Making his third start in a graded stakes, the colt will be ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan from post eight.

Mas Michief (Edgar Perez, post two), Sakonnet (C. H. Marquez, Jr., post four), Red Corvette (Julio Felix, post five), and Parlor (Jesus Castanon, post seven) complete the Arlington Classic field.

Arlington International Racecourse – the Chicago area’s premier Thoroughbred racetrack located in Arlington Heights, Ill. – will run a 71-day meet in 2017 from Friday, May 5 through September 23. 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.