Terrain got the best of a messy stretch run in the $200,000 Arlington-Washington Futurity (gr. III) (VIDEO) when he was elevated from a third-place finish to victory following a rare double disqualification at Arlington Park Sept. 13.
Stewards disqualified both Jose Adan, first across the wire for jockey Brandon Meier in the one-turn mile event for 2-year-olds over the Polytrack surface, and the original runner-up Advice, for separate incidents in the stretch. In the re-ordered finish, which came after a 13-minute deliberation, Jose Adan wound up second with Advice placed third.
Advice was dropped down when, after getting the lead approaching the eighth pole, he drifted out severely under Rene Douglas, causing both favored Capt. Candyman Can, Terrain and Jose Adan to shift outward as well. Then, near the sixteenth pole, Jose Adan, closing fiercely from the far outside, came in on Terrain on his way to finishing a neck in front of Advice with an impressive late surge.
Jockey Jamie Theriot, finishing 1 1/2 lengths behind the runner-up, immediately lodged an objection against Meir. Stewards, in examining the stretch run, also included Advice in their review.
“My horse had a really, really horrible trip,” said Theriot. “I thought he was the best horse in the race. I think (the stewards) made the right decision. I did get bothered by (Advice) the first bump, and then (Jose Adan) came over. The stewards made an honest decision.”
The decision kept Terrain, a Kentucky homebred owned by Adele B. Dilschneider, undefeated in three lifetime starts for trainer Albert Stall Jr. Terrain, a son of Sky Mesa out of Minery, by Forty Niner, won the Mountaineer Juvenile in his most recent start Aug. 2. He had been working superbly for Stall on Keeneland's Polytrack surface in preparation for the Arlington race.
Malibu Maverick, with My Dominick James tracking loosely in second, clicked off quick fractions of :22.70, :46.25 and 1:10.39 before giving way at the top of the lane to My Dominick James. The stalking Advice advanced smartly to get the lead for Douglas and took command in deep stretch after his erratic move. The 14-1 chance Jose Adan had just a couple beaten at the head of the lane and finished in impressive style. But replays showed Terrain, also closing well at odds of 8-1 on the outside of Capt. Candyman Can, steadying at the sixteenth pole under Theriot as Jose Adan swept past.
“When the same kind of thing happened to me (in another race) they didn’t take Jamie (Theriot) down and put me up,” said Meier, an apprentice. “What do I have to do to win this race? Finish third and wait for them to put me up. I just wish they were more consistent with their decisions when incidents are very similar.”
Terrain, 10th in the 12-horse field early on, made steady progress to reach contention in the stretch before being forced to take up. The first six finishers were separated by about two lengths. The final time was 1:35.68.
The victory was worth $113,700, increasing Terrain's bankroll to $177,454. Terrain broke his maiden in his debut against $50,000 claiming horses at Churchill Downs July 3.
Sent off as the distant fourth choice, the chestnut gelding paid $18.20, $9.20 and $6, topping a $2 exacta worth $246.40. Jose Adan, winner of both of his prior starts for trainer Wayne Catalano, returned $13.20 and $7.40. Advice, an eight-length maiden debut winner over the Arlington main track in his only previous start, was $4 to show for trainer Todd Pletcher.
Just a head separated the original third through sixth place finishers. Fourth was Zion, who was followed by My Dominck James and Capt. Candyman Can, the 5-2 choice. Then came His Greatness, Ready Racer, Schleprock, Investor, Malibu Maverick and My Man Moran. Giant Oak and Willie to To scratched.
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Terrain (#10 left) was declared the winner of the Arlington-Washington Futurity after double disqualification.
