Arlington International Racecourse Barn Notes: Friday, June 15, 2018

By Bailey Gallison —-

Chris Block Chasing Record Breaking Stakes Victory
• Jean Elizabeth Risks Perfect Record in Purple Violet Stakes
• Moquett Sends Spark Joy for Saturday Maiden Event

CHRIS BLOCK CHASING RECORD BREAKING STAKES VICTORY

Trainer Chris Block sends out a pair of runners in both of Saturday’s state-bred events – the Springfield Stakes and Purple Violet Stakes (both carrying a $75,000 purse) – and in doing so will be chasing the record of most stakes wins by a trainer at Arlington International Racecourse.

Block owns 43 stakes victories at the Chicagoland oval, just one fewer than current record holder and National Racing Hall of Fame conditioner Harry Trotsek, who trained here from 1950-87.

“I would be honored to have that record,” Block said. “I never knew Harry Trotsek but he was a very highly respectable horseman that was here for many years and had a lot of success at Arlington Park. To be in the same breath, if you will, as him would be an honor.”

In the Springfield Stakes, Block is represented by Wile E Peyote (post two, Jose Lopez) and maiden Dr. Bombay (post five, Mitchell Murrill).

Owned by Timothy Keeley, the 3-year-old son of City Zip broke his maiden last out on debut in a maiden special weight going six furlongs over the Polytrack at Arlington, defeating next out winner Bulldog of Bergen.

“He came out of the race in good shape,” Block said. “He stayed together mentally which is good. Sometimes when a horse wins like that first time in a sprint, from my experience, they get a little rattled. He’s kept it together and trained nicely. A mile out of the chute is a tricky race for probably everybody, but he’s coming in good.”

Brinker Hill Farm’s Dr. Bombay is still in search of a victory and will be making his fourth career start. The son of Street Sense will be trying the Polytrack for the first time in the Springfield Stakes.

Should Block not emerge victorious in the Springfield Stakes, he still has another shot to tie Trotsek’s record with Moabo Stable’s Strollin the Bayou (post one, Carlos Marquez, Jr.) and maiden Regal Serenade (post six, Jose Lopez) in the Purple Violet Stakes.

A 3-year-old daughter of Stroll, Strollin the Bayou finished off the board in both starts this year. Last September, she was an emphatic seven-length winner of a third-out maiden special weight against open company over the Arlington all weather surface. Meanwhile, Regal Serenade is cross entered in an open company maiden special weight earlier on the card.

“Strollin the Bayou has been a bit of a disappointment but we made some adjustments equipment wise,” Block said. “We put some blinkers on her, changed riders, and I always felt that she would be better going further rather than sprinting. I think a mile out of the chute would fit her nicely. Regal Serenade is 50-50 to run, she might run in the maiden on the grass and take a pass on the Purple Violet.”

JEAN ELIZABETH RISKS PERFECT RECORD IN PURPLE VIOLET STAKES

Undefeated $75,000 Purple Violet Stakes contender Jean Elizabeth has never been behind another horse at any point of call in her four starts. Trainer Larry Rivelli expects the same results, at least early on, in Saturday’s upcoming effort at Arlington International Racecourse.

Owned by V-Leaf Stables and Richard Ravin in partnership with Rivelli, the 3-year-old daughter of Adios Charlie has won all four of her career starts. Jean Elizabeth won on debut last August at Arlington over the all-weather surface by three lengths before defeating winners by an emphatic 8¼ lengths in a first level open company allowance event at Hawthorne Race Course on October 12. She returned to the races this season in style on April 21 when winning the Pretty Jenny Stakes at Hawthorne. In her most recent effort at Arlington she captured an open company allowance race on May 12 with a win over the Polytrack.

“We’re not going to change her style, obviously,” Rivelli said. “The distance is a little further than she’s run but it’s a one turn mile, which is good. She’ll be in front that’s for sure.”

Just last Saturday, Rivelli won the Mike Spellman Memorial Stakes with Dreamofjean E., who shares the same namesake as Jean Elizabeth.

“The lady that does all our farm work for us is named Dr. Jean White and we let her have a hand in naming a couple of her favorites,” Rivelli said. “Dreamofjean E. was one and Jean Elizabeth is another, so she picked the right ones.”

Dr. Jean White will not be in attendance, but will likely be watching from her farm in Ocala.

“She’s in Ocala Florida so she’s got lots of babies and mares to take care of,” Rivelli said.

Jockey Julio Felix, who has piloted Jean Elizabeth to all four of her victories, has the mount in the Purple Violet. The duo will break from gate four.

MOQUETT SENDS SPARK JOY FOR SATURDAY MAIDEN EVENT

It has been nearly 12 years since trainer Ron Moquett has run a horse to Arlington, but Moquett will be represented by Spark Joy in Saturday’s fifth race – a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight event over the turf.

Moquett’s last starter at Arlington took place on July 22, 2006 when Big Slew finished fifth in a starter allowance event. One would have to go back to June 11, 2004 to find his last Arlington winner with Clearsoul, who took a maiden claiming event for a $10,000 tag. Both races were contested over the Chicagoland oval’s former dirt track.

Owned by It’s All About The Girls Stable, the 3-year-old daughter of Creative Cause will be trying turf for the first time on Saturday. Her best finish came three starts ago where she was second behind Devine Mischief, a full sister to two-time graded stakes winner Vicar’s in Trouble.

“I used to send horses up there all the time but it’s been awhile,” Moquett said by phone from his Churchill Downs base. “We’re just looking for a good spot with her. She ran second at the Fair Grounds [Race Course & Slots] earlier this year to a really nice horse (Devine Mischief) who was stakes placed.”

Harry Hernandez will guide Spark Joy as the pair breaks from the rail.