Undefeated Dixie Band, winner of the Spectacular Bid Stakes last month and perfect in two starts on the Arlington Park Polytrack, heads a field of seven 2-year-olds entered for the $150,000 Arlington-Washington Futurity (gr. III) Sept. 5.
Trained by Wayne Catalano for owners Darrell and Evelyn Yates, the son of Dixie Union is the only stakes winner in the race, which is contested at one mile on the Polytrack. Prior to the Aug. 8 Spectacular Bid, a seven-furlong test which he won by 1 1/2 lengths while clocking 1:23.29 as the even-money choice, the bay gelding broke his maiden at first asking by 3 1/4 lengths at Arlington June 21.
David Flores has been handed the riding assignment on Dixie Band, who must overcome the far outside post while carrying top impost of 119 pounds.
U Appeal to Me, a clear second in Arlington's Spectacular Bid, seeks to end a three-race losing streak for trainer Michael Stidham. James Graham will ride Oak Crest Farm and John H. Adger's Successful Appeal colt for the first time. U Appeal to Me broke his maiden at Arlington in his debut May 28 going 4 1/2 furlongs.
Four others in the lineup -- Beware the Tiger, Herecomesbert, Oak Motte and Piscitelli -- come into the Arlington-Washington Futurity off maiden wins. Kratisto, a son of Afleet Alex who was second in the Charles Town Juvenile Aug. 15 after breaking his maiden at Delaware Park earlier in the summer, completes the field.
The Arlington-Washington Futurity is the first of three grade III stakes on the Sept. 5 program at Arlington. The others are the $200,000 Washington Park Handicap at 1 3/16 miles and the $150,000 Arlington-Washington Lassie at one mile for 2-year-old fillies.
$150,000 Arlington-Washington Futurity (gr. III, Race 6, 3:28 p.m.), 2-Year-Olds, 1 Mile (All Weather)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Beware the Tiger (KY), J M Campbell, 117, M B Campbell
2. U Appeal to Me (KY), J Graham, 117, M Stidham
3. Oak Motte (TX), E Razo, Jr., 117, T M Amoss
4. Herecomesbert (KY), L J Sterling, Jr., 117, S M Asmussen
5. Piscitelli (KY), J Alvarado, 117, G D Sacco
6. Kratisto (KY), I J Rosendo, 117, A F Allen, III
7. Dixie Band (KY), D R Flores, 119, W M Catalano