Arlington Stakes – Grade III
1 1/16 Mile Turf Stake Purse $200.000 Open 4 Year Olds and Up.

1st    Raj The Magician      Wood Duck Stables     Garcia Mar

With over 50% of today’s winners at CD coming from the one gate i was getting more confident as this race approached that this was indeed a big chance to win. As i said in my preview this horse is traveling up his improvement curve at the moment and if you can ride that wave at HRP you can really pick off some good races along the way. Wood Duck Stables has spotted that perfectly with this one and got their charge in the perfect position to use the gate and get a nose win. It is true the second horse looked a bit unlucky with the draw but this is a good horse and i feel there are more wins in him.

2nd     Tiger Claw     London Racing      Gaffalione T

A long way last for most of this race he looked to have no chance on the new engine but rallied through the final half and flew home to be beaten just a nose at the end. This horse was remarkable in the final quarter running much faster than anything else and you have to say he goes down as an unlucky loser considering the traveling positions of the first two. Like the winner this four year old is on the up and must go in the black book for next time.

3rd   Invade The Storm       Saratoga Stud      Talamo J

Looked to be coming back to his best with a good effort from a bad gate here. He had to do a lot of work throughout the race and i feel there is a decent win in him yet.

4th   Roodey      Maxmillion Farm      Beschizza A

Despite a race that ended up slower than his TAM Stakes win he couldn’t repeat that effort and ran fourth.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES