Arlington International Racecourse Barn Notes: Thursday, September 20, 2018

By Ryan Martin —-

Sophie Doyle Lands Four Wins on Thursday
Jean Elizabeth Ships to Churchill Downs for Dogwood Stakes

SOPHIE DOYLE LANDS FOUR WINS ON THURSDAY

Sophie Doyle equaled her North American best on Thursday afternoon at Arlington International Racecourse when recording four wins on a single card for the second time in her career.

After taking the opener by almost 10 lengths aboard Gary Broad’s Student Body ($8.60) for trainer Chris Davis, Doyle went on to capture race three for trainer Brian Williamson with Nancy Vanier, Brady Tauber, Steve Gordon and Bryan Ward’s Big Al ($7.20). She scored in the fourth race aboard Moon Snow Farm’s wagering-favorite Ginger Snap Dance ($6.60) for trainer Wayne Catalano and again in the sixth with Williamson trainee Romeo O Romeo ($10.20) for Nancy Vanier, et al.

“It’s been fantastic,” said Doyle. “Just to win with my first three mounts on the day was amazing. When it happens it just comes so easily – it all works out.”

“Sophie is riding so well right now,” said trainer Brian Williamson. “She has great hands and a good sense of pace. It’s always nice to see that.”

This is Doyle’s first season riding full time at Arlington since the England-native moved her tack to the United States in 2013. She finished second overall in the jockey standings this spring at Hawthorne Race Course, where she first won four races in a single day on their April 26 card. Doyle currently ranks third at Arlington with 51 total wins this season behind Valdivia (105) and Mitchell Murrill (79).

The 2018 live racing season at Arlington concludes Saturday, September 22.

JEAN ELIZABETH SHIPS TO CHURCHILL DOWNS FOR DOGWOOD STAKES

Trainer Larry Rivelli will be looking at his fifth consecutive trainer’s title at Arlington International Racecourse on closing day Saturday, September 22. On the same day, he sends out four-time Arlington winner Jean Elizabeth at Churchill Downs for the $100,000 Dogwood Stakes which will be her first start outside the state of her home state of Illinois

Owned by Rivelli in partnership with V-Leaf Stables and Richard Ravin, the 3-year-old daughter of Adios Charlie has never been beaten more than one length in eight career starts, six of which were victories. She only has one stakes win on her resume, which took place in the Pretty Jenny Stakes at Hawthorne Race Course on April 21 – her sophomore debut.

Jean Elizabeth was originally entered in the Grade II Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes last Monday facing older fillies and mares, but Rivelli opted for a spot against follow sophomores.

“That was an older horse race and we took a shot to see what it looked like,” said Rivelli. “I figured if I could run against straight three-year-olds it’d be a different race. The only concern is dirt. She’s run twice on it and won but the numbers are a lot lower than the Poly. I think she likes it; hopefully she likes the Churchill track. We’ll see if they can catch her.”

Jean Elizabeth is out of the Lit de Justice broodmare Rooney Doodle, whose total of six offspring have all found the winner’s circle on multiple occasions. Dugout, a juvenile full-brother to Jean Elizabeth, is a two-time winner at Saratoga Race Course including a victory in the Funny Cide Stakes, which was Rivelli’s first stakes win at the historic upstate New York oval.

“I think they’re both really nice horses,” Rivelli said. “As far as similarities, he’s a lot bigger than she is. They act the same but I think they can run on any surface. They may have a preference, but I think they’re the same type of horse. If she wins this race, then we have a lot of options.”

Jockey James Graham will guide the filly from gate five in the field of eleven.

Rivelli went on to speak of future plans for Bizzee Channel, a two-time starter who is still a maiden, but could try stakes company at Keeneland Race Course next time out in either the $200,000 Indian Summer Stakes or the Grade III $250,000 Dixiana Bourbon Stakes Both stakes events are contested on Sunday, October 7.

“We’re taking a shot,” Rivelli said. “We like him that much.”

Bizzee Channel’s career debut took place for former trainer Steve Manley where he was second a neck behind eventual stakes placed Manny Wah over the all-weather surface at Arlington on July 21. His second start was his first for Rivelli when finishing third in a one-mile turf maiden event at Kentucky Downs on September 12. The 2-year-old gelding is by English Channel out of the Mizzen Mast broodmare Bizzee Mizzee.

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