Arlington International Racecourse Barn Notes: Thursday, August 31

By Bailey Gallison —-

STATE-BREDS SQUARE UP IN ARLINGTON HEIGHTS STAKES

The inaugural running of the $65,000 Arlington Heights Overnight Stakes on Sept. 2 for drew a field of six state-bred 3-year-olds to contest seven furlongs on the main track at Arlington International Racecourse. William Stiritz’s Smoke ‘n’ Gloat, runner-up in the Bruce D. Memorial Stakes last out for trainer Scott Becker, drew post three with rider Chris Emigh. The son of Smoke Glacken is a two-time winner this season at Arlington including a two-length victory in the Springfield Stakes on June 3. Bred by Michael Reavis and Carol Ricker, he will have to turn the tables on undefeated Devileye, S. D. Brilie’s homebred son of Indygo Shiner that won his debut last August by three-quarters of a length over Smoke ‘n’ Gloat. The Michele Boyce trainee won the Futurity Stakes at Hawthorne Racecourse in December, and then returned from a layoff to win at Arlington on Aug. 5. Devileye will be piloted from gate five by Santo Sanjur, who has been aboard for all four of the gelding’s victories.

Trainer Larry Rivelli will send out two Illinois-bred geldings, including V-Leaf Stables, Richard Ravin and Rivelli’s three-time winner What’s Up Dude. Bred by Rivelli and Ravin, the son of First Dude has raced five times over the Polytrack since debuting at Arlington on June 4. Second two starts back behind Smoke ‘n’ Gloat, he will have Jose Valdivia, Jr. aboard once again as they start from post two. From the far outside in gate seven will break V-Leaf Stables and Richard Ravin’s Richiesinthehouse under jockey Julio Felix. The son of Sidney’s Candy was bred by Ravin and is undefeated in two starts on the turf at Arlington. Both races came on less-than-firm ground while taking the field wire-to-wire, but he will have to race further than 5½ furlongs for the first time.

Steve Manley’s Go Oshie Go will try to repeat his most recent win at this distance off a brief freshening. The son of Road Ruler won for the third time in his 11th career start when Mitchell Murrill got aboard for a one-length victory on July 22; Murill also rode the gelding to his maiden win last July. Bred, owned and trained by Manley, Go Oshie Go has earned all his placings on the Polytrack at Arlington. Murrill will pilot him for a third time as they break from gate four. On the rail, C. H. Marquez, Jr. will be aboard Wayne Catalano trainee G. C. Crackerjack. Owned by Joe and Don Cochonour and Claude and Andrea Sherman, the gelding broke his maiden by two lengths in July before finishing three-quarters of a length behind What’s Up Dude in their most recent start Aug. 17. Bred by Arapaho Royal LLC, the son of Santiva will be looking for his first victory against winners.

THE PIZZA MAN TO PARADE AT ARLINGTON SEPTEMBER 16

The Pizza Man, the richest Illinois-bred horse of all time and winner of the 2015 Grade I Arlington Million, will say his final farewell to Chicagoland racing fans on Sept. 16 at Arlington International Racecourse. The Pizza Man, retired after his third run in the Million on Aug. 12, will parade in front of the fans between races in a ceremony paying tribute to the nationally popular racehorse.

“We are thrilled that the Papiese family and trainer Roger Brueggemann have allowed us to celebrate the career of this great horse with his many fans,” said Arlington General Manager Tony Petrillo. “We have quite a program that is being developed at this time, and he certainly deserves it.”

“This horse gave us thrills that we could only have dreamed about. He gave us everything he had and having him return to the scene of his – and our – greatest win is only fitting,” said Richard Papiese of Midwest Thoroughbreds. “It will be a great day and an emotional one as well and we are thankful that the Arlington team is honoring The Pizza Man.”

The Pizza Man won five graded stakes in his career, including the 2015 Million and the 2016 Grade I Northern Dancer at Woodbine. A 17-time winner from 36 career starts, the son of English Channel retired as the richest Illinois-bred in history with career earnings of $2,158,941 with over $1.2 million of those dollars earned in 10 wins over the Arlington turf course.

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.