A pair of $50,000 state bred sprint stakes tops the card at Arlington Park on Saturday and trainer Larry Rivelli, for owners Richard Ravin and Patricia’s Hope LLC, looks to be the main threat in both.
The fifth race, the Isaac Murphy for fillies and mares, Rivelli has drawn the inside with speedsters Dreamofjean E. and Richies Sweetheart in the six furling dash. Interestingly, both contenders are coming into the race on three race winning streaks.
The 7/5 morning line favorite, Richies Sweetheart, comes on off a strong stakes win in the Brandywine over a yielding Indiana Grand turf course. She had to battle head and head early in that one and still had the strength to hold off a late charge to win that one. Her real challenge may be to her inside with her stablemate and her similar running style.
Dreamofjean E. is stepping back into stakes company for the first time in nearly two years. Her last was a forgettable effort at Fairmont as a 2-year old in the All Sold Out Stakes. She has matured considerably since that effort and is a sterling five for eight over the Arlington Park surface.
While the Rivelli duo is formidable, if neither scratches and neither can rate, watch out for Summer Again. She bulldozed an allowance field last with a talking trip that could foreshadow the type of trip she may get here. She’s been steadily improving since moving to the artificial surface and could be dangerous if the stablemates hook up. A late scratch by either, though, and it will be tough for the rest of the field.
While Rivelli’s charges drew the inside in the Murphy, his charge, Rivzinthehouse, drew the outside in the $50,000 Addison Cammack Handicap, also to be contested at six furlongs.
Ironically, Rivzinthehouse came within a head of also coming into the stake today on a three race winning streak but was caught late by Rocket Professor in his seasonal debut.
Rocket Professor’s win that day was a bit out of character as the six-year old gelding campaigned by Scott Becker for William Stiritz – seemingly winners of every stake at Hawthorne over the winter – enjoys running on the front end.
If he again goes early, he’s going to have company to his inside from the Grade 3 Arlington Washington Futurity winner, Recount.
Recount has won three of five lifetime starts and gave A M Milky Way all he could handle in the Golden Circle Stakes at Prairie Meadows last out. A M Milky Way went on to dominate an overnight stake at Canterbury Park before faltering in the Grade 3 Carry Back Stakes at Gulfstream.
With all the speed from the leading contenders, the “other” Stiritz/Becker horse, Molaro Stakes winner Creative Art has the stalking style to pick up the pieces should the race fall apart on the front end. Look for him late and he should also carry come value on the tote board as well.
