Dona Bruja, Kasaqui give Correas formidable tandem

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Trainer Ignacio Correas’s two intended Arlington Million Day starters, Dona Bruja and Kasaqui, returned to Kentucky shortly after racing Saturday at Arlington, but both are scheduled to return to Arlington a few days before the Million card on Aug. 12.

Dona Bruja, who got a 98 Beyer Speed Figure for her performance, could not have been more impressive in winning the Modesty Handicap here Saturday by one length. The best way to appreciate the Argentine mare’s performance is to watch the replay, then look at the fractional times on the race chart. Dona Bruja closed about two lengths into a final three-sixteenths of a mile in 17.06 seconds, and even considering the moderate tailwind, that is flying.

Dona Bruja, Correas said, came out of the Modesty in good shape, is back at Keeneland, and will have two comfortable workouts before the Grade 1 Beverly D. Stakes. Declan Cannon has been working the mare for several months, rode her perfectly when she won the Mint Julep Handicap at Churchill in her U.S. debut, and did so again Saturday. He will have a return call in the Beverly D.

“I just want to keep her happy now,” said Correas. “She won’t need much.”

Dona Bruja won nine of 11 starts and was a Group 1 winner in Argentina, and she surely will be among the favorites in the Beverly D. after her showing Saturday.

Kasaqui, who was second in the Million last year, came out of his solid third-place finish Saturday in the Arlington Handicap with a minor injury to a front foot incurred when he grabbed a quarter coming out of the gate. Kasaqui, as is the case after all of his starts, will spend about a week at a Kentucky farm before rejoining Correas’s string at Keeneland.

“He’s pretty sore,” Correas said, “but that’s something he’s going to get over in two or three days.”

Correas said James Graham will have a return call in the Million on Kasaqui, who finished well Saturday in a pure prep race.

“I don’t know if I’ll have the best horses that day,” Correas said of his Million Day runners, “but they’re going to be ready to do the best they can do.”

Ghost Hunter targets Million

Ghost Hunter arrived back at trainer Jamie Ness’s Delaware Park base on Sunday night after winning the Arlington Handicap looking no worse for his van trip and first graded stakes win.

“Everything seems A-okay with him,” said Ness. “He’ll get two or three days off. I’ll probably work him one time [for the Million] about 10 days out.”

The 7-year-old Ghost Hunter’s first graded stakes win was the 18th victory of his career and produced a 98 Beyer, equaling his career best. Ghost Hunter has run four times this year and gotten three 98s, and for whatever reason, he has been able to boost his performance level while making the 42nd through 45th starts of a career that began in 2013.

“We’re all excited about the Million for sure,” said Ness, who intends to stick with jockey Edwin Gonzalez, who also won his first graded race in the Handicap, for the Million.

Ramseys loaded for stakes

The owner Ken Ramsey wanted to know exactly why Keystoneforvictory needed to be shipped to Gulfstream Park from Kentucky in late May just to run in a starter handicap, and he asked trainer Mike Maker as much.

“I said, ‘Mike, we’re shipping all the way to Florida for a starter-allowance race?’ It was not my idea to go to Florida,” Ramsey said.

Maker’s idea was that the 1 1/2-mile start there would serve as an ideal steppingstone to the Stars and Stripes Stakes at Arlington, and since Keystoneforvictory won the race Saturday, Maker clearly was right.

“I got to give the credit to Mike there,” Ramsey said.

Keystoneforvictory got a career-best 95 Beyer for beating The Pizza Man by 1 1/2 lengths in the Stars and Stripes and earned a return trip to Arlington for the American St. Leger on Aug. 12. Ramsey said he hopes to have a runner for all six stakes races on the Million card. Oscar Nominated and perhaps International Star will go in the Million, Kitten’s Roar is pointed to the Beverly D., and Gorgeous Kitten, who was second Saturday in the American Derby, starts in the Secretariat Stakes.

◗ Sonic Boom, trainer Ian Wilkes said, came out of his front-running American Derby win in good order and remains a likely runner in the Grade 1 Secretariat. “He came out of it good,” said Wilkes.

◗ The connections of Oak Brook, who finished second at 45-1 in the Arlington Handicap, are undecided on the Illinoisbred’s next start, but trainer Brian Williamson said the American St. Leger could get at least as much consideration as the Million.

◗ The exciting Correas-trained prospect Malraux will try to win for the second time at this meet when he starts Thursday in race 3, a first-level turf-sprint allowance that is also open to $18,000 claimers. Malraux won an off-the-turf maiden sprint here May 27 by almost 10 lengths.