Kilmore Quay, runner-up last time in the Virginia Oaks (gr. IIIT), could be the one to beat in the $100,000 Pucker Up Stakes (gr. IIIT) for 3-year-old fillies on the Arlington Park turf course Sept. 6.
The Pucker Up, at 1 1/8 miles, is part of Arlington's annual "Turf Showcase" on Labor Day. Eight of the day's nine races are on the grass, with the Pucker Up, which drew a field of 10, going as the eighth event at about 4:26 p.m. CDT.
Kilmore Quay, an Irish-bred daughter of Traditionally, set the pace in the Virginia Oaks before being collared late by Check the Label July 17 at Colonial Downs. That was just the second start in the United States for the filly, who won two of five races to begin her career in France. In her U.S. debut May 22, she ran sixth in the American One Thousand Guineas at one mile over the Arlington turf course. She was unruly in the gate and bobbled at the start of that race.
Michael Baze, the leading rider at Arlington in his first season at the Chicago track, takes the mount on Silverton Hill's Kilmore Quay, who is trained by Darrin Miller.
Stakes-winning Go Ask Alex invades from New York for owner/trainer John Glenney. In her only prior try over the Arlington course, the speedy Afleet Alex filly ran second in the American One Thousand Guineas. In her last start, she finished third in an optional claiming allowance test at one mile on Saratoga's inner turf course Aug. 16. Chris Emigh takes the mount.
Silent Candy, now in the barn of Andy Hansen after being claimed for $62,500 two starts back, has won three of her four races over the Arlington turf, including a victory in the Hatoof Stakes in her most recent try Aug. 21.
Edward Seltzer's Besitos, second in the one-mile Hatoof for trainer Raja Malek, also is in the Pucker Up.
Another to watch is Dundalk 5’s Dundalk Dust, perfect in two races over the Arlington turf course for trainer Chris Block. She broke her maiden over the surface in her debut last year. In her most recent start July 22, she took a second-level allowance by one length as the favorite.
In between, the Illinois-bred daughter of Military beat state-bred rivals in allowance company over Arlington's Polytrack in June and was placed second in the Arlington Oaks (gr. III) on the main track a month later.
$100,000 Pucker Up Stakes (gr. IIIT, Race 8 4:26 p.m.), 3-Year-Old Fillies, 1 1/8 Miles (Turf)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Dade Babe (FL), F Geroux, 118, D L Miller
2. Mourette (IL), I Karlsson, 118, C M Block
3. Maddie's Odyssey (KY), J Graham, 118, P Gulyas
4. Dundalk Dust (IL), E E Perez, 118, C M Block
5. Go Ask Alex (KY), C A Emigh, 122, J Glenney
6. Besitos (FL), E Razo Jr., 118, R Malek
7. Cave Creeker (KY), E T Baird, 118, L J Roussel III
8. La Cloche (KY), J Alvarado, 118, J J Toner
9. Kilmore Quay (IRE), M C Baze, 118, D Miller
10. Silent Candy (KY), S J Sellers, 120, A M Hansen
