Robert Smithen’s Bay to Bay, a close second last time out in Keeneland’s Appalachian Stakes (gr. IIIT), came from seventh in a field of eight 3-year-old fillies to win the May 22 American 1000 Guineas Stakes at Arlington Park (VIDEO). Later on the card favored Workin for Hops took the $100,000 Arlington Classic (VIDEO) wire to wire to give jockey Robby Albarado a stakes double.
Run for the third time at a mile over the Arlington turf course, the $200,000 Guineas was timed in 1:39.24. Bay to Bay, a daughter of Sligo Bay , sat far off the pace set by Go Ask Alex. Go Ask Alex cruised through the early going, setting splits of :24.88 and :49.09 over the “good” turf course. Bay to Bay, with Albarado aboard, split foes on the turn and hooked the pacesetter early on in the stretch run before pulling away to a 2 1/2-length score. Go Ask Alex held for second, a half-length in front of favored Queen of the Creek.
Bred by Adena Springs, Bay to Bay was a $35,000 Keeneland September yearling sale purchase. She is out of the With Approval mare Bala and is trained by Brian Lynch. In four starts at 2, she won the Natalma Stakes (Can-IIIT) and finished second to Biofuel in the Mazarine Stakes (Can-III). She now has three wins, two seconds, and a third from six career starts and has earned $297,578.
For the win, Bay to Bay paid $5.40, $3.60, and $260 as the second choice. Go Ask Alex returned $6.40 and $3.40 and Queen of the Creek paid $2.40. The 8-5 exacta paid $38.80.
Orchestrator finished fourth, and was followed by Chantilly Nayla, Kilmore Quay, Besitos, and Lucky Lass. Superstardom was scratched.
For Workin for Hops, the third start off the layoff was the charm in the Classic as Estrorace’s 3-year-old gelding had an easy time of it on the front end, winning the 1 1/16-mile event as the favorite in 1:45.43 by 2 1/4 lengths over Alfarabi.
Workin for Hops was an easy winner of the minor Grindstone Stakes at Fair Grounds March 27, then was a hard-luck fifth on Kentucky Oaks Day in the American Turf (gr. IIIT) at Churchill Downs. Brian Hernandez Jr. was aboard for both of those efforts, but Albarado got the call at Arlington for trainer Michael Stidham.
Workin for Hops is a son of City Zip out of the Citidancer mare Citi Pearl. He was bred in Kentucky by Amy Bondon and Tom McNally. He paid $5.40, $3.60, and $3. Alfarabi paid $6.60 and $2.40. Gleam of Hope returned $4.60. The 3-2 exacta paid $31.
Mister Marti Gras was fourth, followed by Our Champion, Family Foundation, Indy Scent, and Summer Movie. Call Shot and Prairie Breeze were scratched.