Coming off a grade I triumph on Polytrack at Del Mar last month, it was no surprise that In Summation won the $150,000 Arlington Breeders' Cup Sprint Aug. 25 at Arlington Park as the 3-5 favorite. What was unexpected is that he had to share the victory with the pacesetter Piratesonthelake, who earned a dead heat.
It was the second dead-heat for the win in the 11 runnings of Arlington’s biggest sprint stake. Bet On Sunshine and Hunk of Class finished on even terms in the 1997 renewal.
Rene Douglas rode the Christophe Clement-trained In Summation, coming off a nose tally in the Crosby July 29 for owner Waterford Stable. Diego Sanchez was aboard the Jimmy DiVito-conditioned Piratesonthelake, owned by B Jock Racing LLC.
Piratesonthelake made the pace with posted fractions of :22.91, :45.78, and :57.14 on the way to a final clocking of 1:09.14. The 3-year-old Florida-bred Lake Austin gelding led by two lengths in the stretch and battled back as In Summation took a couple of cracks at the leader but could not get by.
“It was a tremendous race,” said Douglas, the meet’s leading rider who picked up his second of three wins for the day. “I congratulate Sanchez on the other horse. I thought I had it won but I’ll settle for the dead-heat.”
In Summation, a 4-year-old Florida-bred Put It Back colt who carried 124 and spotted Piratesonthelake 12 pounds, collected his third successive win.
“I can’t believe this,” said Diego Sanchez after dismounting from Piratesonthelake, who broke in stride and led throughout after finishing second in Iowa’s $75,000 Prairie Meadows Sprint in his last start Aug. 4. “I’m very surprised because this is my first stakes win at Arlington Park, but I’m very happy to win a stakes race here at Arlington. This is a very good horse.”
In Summation paid $2.20, $2.40 and $2.10, and increased his career earnings to $739,826. Piratesonthelake returned $4.80, $5, and $3.20, and increased his lifetime bankroll to $143,841. In Summation’s winner’s share, as a horse eligible for Breeders’ Cup monies, was $69,600, while Piratesonthelake, not eligible for the Breeders' Cup, earned $39,600.
Off Duty, winner of Ellis Park’s Don Bernhardt Memorial last time on July 21 as a Lynn Whiting trainee, finished third, a neck behind the top two under Mark Guidry, paying $2.60 to show.
(Chart, Equibase)