'Prospect,' Sarah Sis Head Futurity, Lassie

With Keeneland Race Course switching back to dirt, Arlington International Racecourse offers two of the last stakes run on Polytrack in the United States this year, as 2-year-olds take the stage in the Arlington-Washington Futurity (gr. III) and Arlington-Washington Lassie Sept. 6.

The Futurity drew a field of eight, headed by the undefeated dual stakes winner Private Prospect, while the Lassie drew a field of seven, with six of the starters coming off maiden victories, including Sarah Sis, who romped by 11 3/4 lengths in her only start Aug. 24.

 

Three of the Futurity starters are coming off the Prairie Meadows Juvenile Mile: first-place finisher Private Prospect, third-place finisher Recount, and fourth-place finisher Mr Lightning Boy, who was beaten almost 13 lengths.

 

Although Private Prospect, trained by Michael Campbell, had to work to defeat Lucky Player by a neck, the son of Discreet Cat remained undefeated, having previously won the Prairie Gold Juvenile Stakes by 5 1/2 lengths.

 

Third-place finisher Recount was the 3-5 favorite in the Prairie Meadows Juvenile, coming off an impressive 4 1/2-length score in a maiden race at Arlington, and should be tough with that race under his belt. Trained by James DiVito, he gets four pounds from Private Prospect.

 

There should be a good deal of support for several impressive maiden winners, including Ike Walker, whose 7 1/4-length romp going seven furlongs at Arlington Aug. 7 could give him a good deal of support at the windows.

 

Others coming off maiden victories are Seraph, who won first time out by 3 1/4 lengths at Indiana Downs; and Bourbon Cowboy, a winner by nearly two lengths in his second start; One Go All Go, who broke his maiden by 5 1/4 lengths for a $62,500 claiming tag first time out.

 

In the Lassie, Happy to Go, third in the My Dear Stakes and fifth in the Ontario Debutante, both at Woodbine Race Course, is the only filly with stakes credentials. All the others are coming off maiden wins.

 

The most impressive of those is Sarah Sis, who destroyed her field going six furlongs at Arlington in her career debut for trainer Ingrid Mason. Quality Rocks, who broke her maiden by 4 1/2 lengths at Presque Isle Downs, gets Lasix for the first time. Lemon Gala, who drew the rail, is coming off an impressive 3 1/2-length score going seven furlongs at Arlington in her second career start.

 

Drawing the outside post and dropping back to seven furlongs from a mile is Susan's Day, who showed excellent acceleration rallying from eighth to win going away by 2 1/2 lengths at Presque Isle Downs for trainer Eoin Harty.