Arlington International Racecourse Barn Notes: Thursday, June 29

By Bailey Gallison —-

Rooney Doodle Runners Continue to Succeed on Synthetic
· Boyce Nominates Pair to the Ride to the Million

ROONEY DOODLE RUNNERS CONTINUE TO SUCCEED ON SYNTHETIC

V-Leaf Stables, Richard Ravin & Larry Rivelli’s What’s Up Dude added a second victory to his record when winning a six-furlong allowance event over the Polytrack at Arlington International Racecourse on June 24. Bred in Illinois by trainer Larry Rivelli along with Richard Ravin, the 3-year-old son of First Dude made his debut June 4 in a maiden special weight even for state-breds, getting up at the wire to win by a neck. The gelding produced a very similar result in his second start, closing well under rider Jose Valdivia, Jr. to nab the half-length victory.

“It was a nice surprise,” said Rivelli after his second start. “He didn’t show much as a young horse in training, but he woke up in his first race. His second race was even better. I’m very happy with his progression – I think he will improve with distance too. I would like to run him at seven [furlongs] or a mile.”

What’s Up Dude is the fourth foal out of the Lit de Justice mare Rooney Doodle. Her first three foals, all by sire Bring the Heat, boast wins over the Polytrack at Arlington. Her 2013 foal Unscathed, also bred by Rivelli and Ravin, broke his maiden on the main track at Arlington last season before being sidelined. When the gelding made his return to the races in a claiming event on May 5, he won with a driving finish by three lengths, but was picked up by trainer Earl Hughes for owner David Pfeifer. Unscathed started again eight days later for his new connections, winning an allowance race by 6¾ lengths. Rivelli and partners made an offer and were able to purchase the 4-year-old back after that win. Back in the Rivelli barn, Unscathed is entered in the third race on Saturday’s card, an allowance optional claiming event going 6½ furlongs on the Polytrack, but not for a claiming price.

“They wanted him back,” said Rivelli of his partners’ decision to privately purchase the gelding. “I’m not sure he’s a stakes horse – he’s had some issues that needed time off – but he’s a very nice horse.”

BOYCE NOMINATES PAIR TO THE RIDE TO THE MILLION

Mike Spellman Memorial Handicap winner Lovely Loyree could make her next start in the Grade III Modesty Handicap at Arlington International Racecourse on July 8 for owners Feel The Thunder Stable and Oak Rock Racing, et al. The 6-year-old mare by Cactus Ridge was making her seasonal debut when winning the Mike Spellman Memorial on June 17 over a yielding turf course at Arlington, but trainer Michele Boyce thinks the soft ground could be to her advantage.

“We’re going to watch the weather forecast carefully for next week,” said Boyce. “She really likes the yielding turf. I wouldn’t want to run her if it came up firm – I would wait and run her in the Indiana General Assembly Distaff the week after.”

Boyce is hoping for very different conditions however for Michael Schroeck’s Imposing Will, a 3-year-old gelding by Wilburn who is nominated to the Grade III American Derby, one of the four Grade III stakes on the July 8 card that comprise Arlington’s Ride to the Million presented by Miller Lite. The top three finishers in each stakes race that day earn entry with starting fees waived into the respective race on the Aug. 12 International Festival of Racing.

“He’ll need a firmer course,” said Boyce. “He ran well his last race, and his owner would really like to run him [at Arlington] again, so we’re considering it.”