Kasaqui, Dona Bruja on course

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Trainer Ignacio Correas’s pair of Grade 1 hopefuls for the Aug. 12 Arlington Million card continue to thrive at Keeneland, with Dona Bruja on track for the Beverly D. Stakes and Kasaqui right on course for the Arlington Million.

Correas, who is at Saratoga to run Fizzy Friday in the Lake George on Friday and Blue Prize in a Monday allowance race, said he still has to decide whether to give Dona Bruja two or three works before the Beverly D. Dona Bruja could be favored in the Beverly D., depending upon European participation and which horse trainer Chad Brown sends.

Dona Bruja won the Mint Julep Handicap at Churchill Downs and the Modesty Handicap here July 8 in her two starts since being imported from her native Argentina, where she was a Group 1 winner.

“She’s doing great, galloping every day, looks fantastic,” Correas said. “I’ll be back at the Keeneland barn Tuesday. The only thing I have in mind is whether I want to do three works or two. I need to figure that out.”

Kasaqui, second in the 2016 Million, grabbed a quarter when he stumbled at the start of the Arlington Handicap on July 8 and rallied well for third while giving weight in a pure prep for the Million. Kasaqui always spends a week at a Kentucky farm following his races, and Correas said his injured foot looked fine upon Kasaqui’s return to Keeneland.

“He’s galloping good, and his foot looks good,” Correas said. “He’s most likely to go on two works rather than three since he’s had one more race [than Dona Bruja].”

The horses will travel by van to Arlington either Wednesday or Thursday before the Million.

Correas has the fast 3-yearold Malraux stabled at Arlington. After winning a second straight sprint here rained from turf onto Polytrack, Malraux will head to Saratoga for the $100,000 Quick Call, a turf sprint on Aug. 9. Malraux got a 92 Beyer Speed Figure for his blowout maiden win and a 91 in beating much stronger competition July 13 in a first-level allowance with an $18,000 claiming option. He led and finished second debuting on turf at Tampa Bay Downs on March 18 but has since stopped running in blinkers and, Correas hopes, is a more relaxed animal now.

Correas, whose son Ben runs his Arlington string, has won with six of his last nine starters at this meet, but not everything has gone perfectly. Mind Trappe, a 2-year-old Trappe Shot colt who won a July 13 five-furlong Polytrack maiden race by more than seven lengths at first asking, has run into a minor setback, Correas said, and is being pointed to an autumn campaign. Mind Trappe earned a 71 Beyer.

Petrillo hopes for rebound

Arlington general manager Tony Petrillo said he hopes a very slow weekend at the entry box is an isolated occurrence and that the pace of Arlington entries will bounce back next week.

Arlington carded only seven races each on its Saturday and Sunday cards this weekend. Saturday’s program drew a mere 47 entrants, Sunday’s 46.

Arlington added a fourth day to its race week in July, and with so many Midwest tracks running concurrent meets, there is a general horse shortage in the region. But Petrillo believes Arlington can at least keep its head above water while running four-day weeks through August.

“This is just one weekend out of the three we’ve had four-day weeks,” Petrillo said. “We have a good chance to have good entries from here on out.”

Last Saturday, Arlington got 71 entrants in eight races. Last Sunday’s card, however, had only 51 entrants in seven races. Arlington has averaged 7.39 starters per race at this meet, down from 7.49 during 2016.

◗ The 2-year-old filly Sistriot has died from injuries sustained in a paddock accident before race 8 on Thursday. Sistriot became agitated, flipped, and then got her foot tangled in the reins. State veterinarian Kent Martin sustained an injury to his eye trying to keep the horse from struggling after she was hurt.

◗ Jockeys Carlos Ulloa and Diego Sanchez both will miss several weeks because of injuries sustained in a spill on the far turn of the first race Thursday. Sanchez has a broken clavicle, while Ulloa has a fractured ulna and an injury to his sternum. Ulloa’s mount apparently clipped heels, and Sanchez’s fell over him.