Curtis Green's local stakes winner Muppet Man brings a two-for-two record into the $150,000 Arlington-Washington Futurity (gr. III), headlining a field of eight juveniles set to go a one-turn mile over Polytrack at Arlington Park Sept. 8.
The Futurity is slated as race seven with an approximate post time of 4:18 p.m. CDT., immediately preceding the $150,000 Arlington-Washington Lassie (gr. III) for 2-year-old fillies at 4:50 p.m.
Muppet Man broke his maiden at Arlington July 1 and returning a month later to impressively capture the $65,000 Meadowlake Stakes Aug. 4. Trained by Jimmy DiVito, who has had great success with young horses over the last few seasons, the son of Corinthian will be partnered once again with Jeffrey Sanchez when he breaks from the rail under top weight of 120 pounds. All other colts in the field carry 118.
Northwind Thoroughbreds' Stormin Monarcho and Mast Thoroughbreds' Urban Renewal each have a stakes placing on their respective ledgers. The former, a Joel Berndt-trained son of Monarchos, was third in the Meadowlake and was beaten only a length when finishing fourth in the $75,000 Prairie Gold Juvenile at Prairie Meadows July 21. The latter, by City Zip and trained by Bob Gorham, ran second in the restricted $50,000 Hoover Stakes at River Downs Aug. 11.
Seth Martinez has the call aboard Stormin Monarcho from the four hole; Francisco Torres is slated to ride Urban Renewal from post six.
Mark Dedominico & North American Thoroughbred Racing Comp's Glenco Kid has the advantage of having broken his maiden at the one-turn mile distance of the Futurity. Tim Thornton, who was aboard for that score, has a return call astride the Mike Reavis-trained son of Repent from post five.
Gold Mark Farm's Mylute and Swifty Farms' Pataky Kid both enter off maiden wins over Arlington's Polytrack. The former, a Tom Amoss-trained son of Midnight Lute , was an easy winner going six furlongs Aug. 11 while the latter, by Rockport Harbor and trained by Tom Proctor, rallied to win going seven-eighths of a mile two days previous. James Graham has the call aboard Mylute from the far outside with Garrett Gomez slated to ride Pataky Kid from the three hole.
Illinois-bred Ultimo Trago, fourth in the Meadowlake last time out, broke his maiden in restricted company in his previous start on July 8. Constantino Roman rides the son of Pure Prize for trainer Brian Williamson from post two.
Completing the field for the Futurity is Robert Zoellner's Scissortail G, a Donnie Von Hemel-trained filly who takes on the boys here as she would have been excluded from an overfilled Lassie field. Channing Hill has the call from the seven hole, making up a 115-pound impost with a break in the weights for the maiden daughter of Value Plus.
$150,000 Arlington-Washington Futurity (gr. III, Race 7, approximate post time 4:18 p.m. CDT), 2YOs, one mile (all weather track)
PP, Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Muppet Man (KY), J. Sanchez, 120, J P DiVito
2. Ultimo Trago (IL), C. Roman, 118, B Williamson
3. Pataky Kid (OK), G.K. Gomez, 118, T F Proctor
4. Stormin Monarcho (KY), S.B. Martinez, 118, J Berndt
5. Glenco Kid (KY), T. Thornton, 118, M L Reavis
6. Urban Renewal (OH), F.C. Torres, 118, R M Gorham
7. Scissortail G (OK), C. Hill, 115, D K Von Hemel
8. Mylute (KY), J. Graham, 118, T M Amoss