Peach Brew Stirs Surprise in Arlington Oaks

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Peach Brew, far back early, wore down her rivals in the homestretch after the pacesetters fell apart to post a half-length victory in the $150,000 Arlington Oaks (gr. III) (VIDEO) July 18.

Ridden by Quincy Hamilton, Peach Brew angled off the rail at the three-sixteenths pole and split horses mid-stretch to get the lead, holding off  21-1 shot Sweet and Flawless in deep stretch. Hamilton earned his first Arlington stakes score aboard the Donnie K. Von Hemel-trained daughter of Milwaukee Brew  . Owned by Robert H. Zoellner, Peach Brew covered the 1 1/8-mile event for 3-year-old fillies over Polytrack in 1:50.89.

“Words can’t describe what it’s like to ride a filly like that,” Hamilton said. “When she gets ready to go, she knows it’s time and she gives it 110 percent every time. She sure went into her last race well and came out of it well.”

The come-from-behind rally for Peach Brew was not without some anxious moments for trainer Von Hemel.      

“I was very concerned,” said the veteran conditioner, who returned to Arlington Park for the 2009 season after an absence of several years. “The favorite is on the lead by herself, and with the way the racetrack was playing, I was very concerned, but she got the job done.”

C.S. Silk, the 4-5 choice in the field of six, carved easy fractions of :24.44, :48.19, and 1:12.20 before giving way in the lane and finishing fifth. Hot Cha Cha, the second choice ridden by Fernando Jara, took the lead midstretch but could not hold off the winner and checked in third, a head behind the late-charging Sweet and Flawless, ridden by Junior Alvarado.

The Arlington Oaks was the first graded stakes win for both horse and owner. The victory was the third in 13 starts for the Oklahoma homebred, who is is out of the Hickory Ridge mare Georgia Ok. She added $89,400 to her earnings, which now stand at $212,006.

Sent off as the second-longest price in the race while carrying 116 pounds, Peach Brew paid $18.80, $7.40, and $4 while topping a $2 exacta worth $244.40. 

Sweet and Flawless, making her graded stakes debut, returned $13.80 and $6.80. Last at the top of the stretch, the Eric Reed-trained filly had to swing widest of all before launching a late challenge.

“I think I was on the best filly in the race,” said Alvarado. “I think I lost the race at the quarter pole, when I had to move really wide and I lost one or two lengths.”

Hot Cha Cha, the 122-pound top weight, paid $3. Perfect for You, C. S. Silk ,and Always in My Heart trailed. Excelente scratched.

“I have no excuse,” said Robby Albarado, who rode the beaten favorite. “She felt comfortable on the lead. She got over the track well. She won over it last year. But when they came up to her today, she offered no fight at all. I don’t know why.”