US Racing Weekend Race Recaps

American Derby (G3) at Arlington Park

Real-Story_Steve-Heurtez-USRacing

Real Story (photo by Steve Heurtez).

In the American Derby (G3), a 1 1/8-mile turf affair for three-year-olds, run at Arlington Park on Saturday, 7-REAL STORY sprinted clear early and widened his lead through six furlongs in 1:11.45 and a mile in 1:35.46, before traversing the final furlong in a quick 12.15 seconds to hold off a fast-closing 6-CAPTIVATING MOON by 1 ¾ lengths. 4-DUBBY DUBBIE was another neck back in third.

Real Story’s final time was just a fifth of a second off the course record set by Mr. Leader on July 4, 1970, and last tied by World Class Splash on July 11, 1992.

The son of Fast Bullet, who visited the winner’s circle for the third time in his six-race career, paid $16.80 to win, $6.60 to place and $4.40 to show. Captivating Moon returned $3.00 and $2.20 and Dubby Dubbie paid $3.60.

The $1 exacta (7-6) was worth $25.10, the 50-cent trifecta (7-6-4) paid $48.50 and the 10-cent superfecta (7-6-4-3) was good for $51.35.

For all the latest racing news, visit www.usracing.com/news.

Arlington Handicap (G3) at Arlington Park

Divisidero_Tom-Ferry-USRacing

Divisidero (photo by Tom Ferry).

Winless in five starts since capturing the Turf Classic (G1) at Churchill Downs on May 6, 2017, 11-DIVISIDERO uncorked a potent late kick to win the Arlington Handicap (G3) at Arlington Park on Saturday by a half-length, despite bobbling at the start.

The Kelly Rubley trainee held 10-REVVED UP and safe in the drive, as the top three all maintained their positions in the final furlong. 3-SYNCHRONY, the even-odds favorite, checked in third.

Divisidero paid $7.00 to win, a healthy $5.00 to place and $3.00 to show as the second choice in the betting. Revved Up was 14-1 and returned $10.20 to place and $5.00 to show, while Synchrony was worth $2.40.

The $1 exacta (11-10) returned $38.30, the 50-cent trifecta (11-10-3) paid $43.80 and the 10-cent superfecta (11-10-3-6) was good for $88.62.

For all the latest racing news, visit www.usracing.com/news.

Modesty Handicap (G3) at Arlington Park

Daddys-Lil-Darling_Steve-Heurtez_USRacing

Daddys Lil Darling (photo by Steve Heurtez).

After being 27 lengths off the pace after a half-mile in her last start, 13-DADDYS LIL DARLING was just 1 ½ length in arrears at the same point in the Modesty Handicap (G3) on Saturday at Arlington Park — and the change in tactics worked, as the daughter of Scat Daddy recorded an easy 2 ¼-length win under new jockey Brian Hernandez, who replaced Mike Smith.

What’s more, the Ken McPeek trainee stopped the clock in 1:53.80 for 1 3/16 miles on the turf — which was more than a fifth of a second faster than Divisidero went in the Arlington Handicap at the same distance.

Sent off as the 9-5 favorite, Daddys Lil Darling paid $5.80 to win, $3.40 to place and $2.80 to show. 9-PRADO’S SWEET RIDE, at nearly 12-1, paid $9.80 to place and $6.40 to show, while 6-HALLIE BELLE returned $4.20.

The $1 exacta (13-9) returned $26.70, the 50-cent trifecta (13-9-6) paid $77.70 and the 10-cent superfecta (13-9-6-12) was good for $125.93.

For all the latest racing news, visit www.usracing.com/news.

Stars & Stripes Stakes (G3) at Arlington Park

Catch-En-Die

Catcho En Die (photo by Tom Ferry).

2-CATCHO EN DIE showed that a slight dip in class is all that he needed to return to the winner’s circle. After being claimed for $40,000 by Naipaul Chatterpaul and Sotirios Sakatison April 21 at Aqueduct, the Argentina-bred gelding was entered in the Man o’ War and Manhattan — both Grade 1 stakes run at Belmont Park.

Although he finished off the board in those contests, Catcho En Die was beaten by a total of just 6 ¼ lengths. So, Saturday’s Grade III Stars & Stripes Stakes at Arlington Park looked like the perfect spot — and it was, as the 6-year-old son of Catcher in Rye went right to the front and never looked back, repelling challenges from 9-CANESSAR and 1-SOGLIO in the final furlong of the 1 ½-mile affair to win by a neck.

Catcho En Die paid $19.20 to win, $8.20 to place and $6.20 to show. Canessar returned $4.40 and $4.00, while Soglio was good for $5.40.

The $1 exacta (2-9) returned $50.00, the 50-cent trifecta (2-9-1) paid $206.40 and the 10-cent superfecta (2-9-1-4) checked in at $136.64.

For all the latest racing news, visit www.usracing.com/news.