Although I've lived in Lexington for seven years now, I still regularly handicap the races back in sweet home Chicago. In fact, Arlington has been my best track this summer from a wagering standpoint (surprisingly followed by Del Mar).
Going over Saturday's Arlington card, which features the Arlington-Washington Futurity (G3) and the Arlington-Washington Lassie (G3), I noticed Garrett Gomez is flying in to ride in both two-year-old races. Gomez is named on Pataky Kid, a Rockport Harbor colt trained by Tom Proctor for Swifty Farms, in the Futurity.
And he's on Custody, a Broken Vow filly trained by Al Stall for Adele Dilschneider (the connections on 2010 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Blame), in the Lassie. Both races are one mile on the Polytrack.
According to Marcus Hersh of DRF, Pataky Kid is the primary reason for Gomez' trip. Pataky Kid debuted at Churchill on July 1 and finished a distant, troubled third behind Sky Captain. Pataky Kid returned to break his maiden going seven furlongs at Arlington in a nice looking effort that saw him make a 5-wide move and finish with good energy. https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/videos/race-replays/USA/AP/2012/8/9/8/race-8
The second and third-place finishers (Tulira Castle and Stay In Dixie) returned to win, Pataky Kid reportedly has been working well, and the steam is building. He is going to get bet down quite a bit from that 9-2 morning line.
I slightly prefer the 2-1 morning line favorite Muppet Man, undefeated in two starts incuding a strong win in the local prep. I love how he pressed a fast pace and still had more when jockey Jeffrey Sanchez pushed the button in the Meadowlake Stakes. https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/videos/race-replays/USA/AP/2012/8/4/9/meadowlake-s
If the public sides against Muppet Man and he drifts up to 5-2 or more, I will double down on him.
The other two horses worth considering for the win in the Futurity are Glenco Kid, who flew home in his maiden win but will face a much quicker pace here, and Mylute, who is yet to get a clean trip in three starts but has run well. At 10-1 on the morning line, I'll be using Glenco Kid in the pick4/pick5 and underneath in the ex/tri/super.
Gomez' mount in the Lassie (which drew a field of 14) is listed at 12-1. It's not hard to imagine her liking added distance off of this nice debut: https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/videos/race-replays/USA/AP/2012/7/26/6/race-6
Other races of interest this week for me include the Super Derby at Louisiana Downs (although the 3yo male division is getting depressing), the Presque Isle Masters (Groupie Doll), and opening day at Kentucky Downs (which put together a nice Saturday card).
Good luck this weekend.
