Synchrony tops Arlington Handicap

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Trainer Mike Stidham is having his quietest Arlington race meet this millennium. With the bulk of his stable at Fair Hill in Maryland this summer, Stidham through last weekend had run only 15 horses at Arlington. At his local peak, in 2016, he had 222 Arlington runners.

But that does not mean the 2018 Arlington season won’t be memorable for Stidham. He has sent the excellent grass horse Synchrony here to run Saturday in the Arlington Handicap, a stepping-stone to what his connections hope will be a start next month in the Arlington Million.

And Synchrony would not be just a vanity entry, either. Synchrony, a Pin Oak Farm homebred, was a sharp winner of the Fair Grounds Handicap in February returning from an extended vacation and followed up with a win in the Muniz, the signature turf race of the Fair Grounds meeting. Racing over a boggy turf course he didn’t care for at Churchill Downs, Synchrony was third behind the high-class pair of Yoshida and Beach Patrol in the May 5 Old Forester Turf Classic, his most recent start. With those three races behind them, Synchrony’s camp faced a fork in the road.

“We had to make a decision whether to start going to the mile distances or at a mile and an eighth or up,” Stidham said. “We felt like going a little farther was going to suit him better than shortening him up, and that’s the reason we picked the Million.”

The Arlington satellite string will come in handy for Stidham if Synchrony runs like his trainer thinks he will. The horse, a 5-year-old by Tapit, can just stay here and train for the Million at Arlington.

Joe Bravo comes in for the mount Saturday, and Synchrony drew well when the Arlington Handicap and the rest of Saturday’s Million Preview Day card was drawn Wednesday. Synchrony, the 122-pound highweight, drew post 3 as one of 12 entered in the 1 3/16-mile grass race. The accomplished Divisidero landed post 11, while others worthy of note are the Graham Motion-trained 4-year-old Just Howard as well as Revved Up, in for trainer Shug McGaughey.

The Handicap is carded as race 9 of 10 Saturday with post time set for 5:55 p.m. Central. Preceding it are four other very playable turf stakes, including three Grade 3’s – the Modesty for fillies and mares at 1 3/16 miles, the Stars and Stripes over 1 1/2 miles, and the American Derby for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles – as well as the $100,000 Hatoof Stakes.

Daddys Lil Darling outside

Daddys Lil Darling got an extra handicap in the Modesty Handicap. The 124-pound highweight, she drew the outside post in a 13-horse field.

Daddys Lil Darling, winner of the American Oaks at Santa Anita late last year, comes off a solid third-place finish in the Grade 2 New York Stakes at Belmont Park last month but faces a host of capable challengers in the Modesty, a prep for the Grade 1 Beverly D. By weights, the next-most-qualified entrants are Daring Duchess, Prado’s Sweet Ride, Sully’s Dream, Celestial Insight, Princess La Quinta, and Hallie Belle.

Prado’s Sweet Ride, an Illinois-bred 6-year-old, finished second to high-class Dona Bruja (who is being trained up to the Beverly D.) in 2017 and finally gets back on grass following a dirt race and a Polytrack start this year.

“She’s coming into it the way I saw her coming into last year’s race,” trainer Chris Block said. “She’s a pretty resilient girl. I think she’s gotten a little better with age. I’m anxious to get her back on grass and I think she’s anxious to get back on grass.”

Arklow stretching out

Arklow, second in the Muniz and fourth last out in the Old Forester Turf Classic, will get his first try beyond 1 1/4 miles when he starts in the 1 1/2-mile Stars and Stripes.

The Stars and Stripes drew 12 entrants, and while Arklow is as talented as any of them, the race is strong for $100,000. Among the most capable entrants are Canessar, Nessy, and Soglio.

Arklow flopped in the 1 1/4mile Belmont Derby last summer, but always has given signs of being long on stamina.

“We flirted with the United Nations last weekend but decided this would be a good spot to try something different,” trainer Brad Cox said.

Captivating Moon right back

Captivating Moon just finished third June 23 in the Mystic Lake Derby at Canterbury Park, but trainer Chris Block long has aimed the colt at the American Derby and sees no reason not to run him.

“When I got him going training, he checked all the boxes,” Block said. “He’s eating well.”

Also in the nine-horse field are Arlington Classic winner Ezmosh and the talented Tap Daddy.

◗ The $100,000 Hatoof for 3-year-old fillies also came together remarkably well, luring 12 entrants.