Campbell's 1,000th Win Tops Prairie Festival

(from Arlington Park report)
Jockey Jesse Campbell, who won the first race of his career at Arlington Park in 1995, scored his 1,000th victory when he guided High Expectations to a six-length tally in the $88,900 Springfield Stakes Saturday during Arlington's Prairie State Festival.

In its sixth year, the Prairie State Festival highlights the Illinois breeding program.

The Springfield was Campbell's third win of the day and second in the Prairie series. Earlier in the card, the 28-year-old Campbell captured the $88,400 Lincoln Heritage Handicap aboard Quarter B. Farm's Beau Happy.

"To have a day like this on our state's day," said an emotional Campbell after the milestone victory. "I've come such a long way. I've learned so much from Randy (Meier), Mark (Guidry) and Garrett (Gomez) when he was here. Earlie (Fires) is in my corner. I've learned so much from those guys. I've had so much help from everybody on the backside."

S. D. Brilie Partnership's High Expectations picked up his third straight score at Arlington this season after breaking his maiden at Arlington May 13 and coming back with a first-level allowance tally earlier this month. The Springfield was his first attempt in stakes competition and he beat 12 other sophomores with a sweeping move at the top of the stretch, covering the mile in 1:36.09.

"There was some concern with 13 horses out there," Campbell said. "That's a lot of flesh for sure. I couldn't have had a better trip. I was smiling down the backside. They were six across in front of me, and I'm sitting behind them with so much horse. It's just the best feeling in the world."

Trained by Christine Janks, who also had a pair of victories on the Prairie State Festival card, High Expectations paid $9.20, $4.80, and $2.60.

Northern Gent ran second in the race and paid $3.40 and $2.40. It was another three lengths back to third-place finisher Sir Winzalot, who returned $3.40.

(Chart, Equibase)

In the Lincoln Heritage, Beau Happy raced three wide in the middle of the pack, then rallied in the stretch to take the lead inside the eighth pole. He was all out to hold off Arsen Annie to win by a nose in the 1 1/16-mile turf race in 1:43.17.

"It was pretty close," Campbell said. "I had my head down riding hard. She's gotten good for us. I had a good trip. Arsen Annie came at us from out of nowhere, and it was close."

Beau Happy, second choice in the wagering, paid $8.40, $4.60, and $3.80. Arsen Annie returned $6.60 and $5.40. Cashmere Miss was third in the 12-horse field and paid $13.40.

(Chart, Equibase)

William Lydon, Arbaway Farms & Carson Springs Farm's Pretty Jenny remained perfect in her four-race career with a 5 ½-length win in the $86,200 Purple Violet Stakes. She covered the mile in wire-to-wire fashion in 1:37.07 under Chris Emigh, who also won two stakes on the Prairie State Festival program.

"From the time when she was a baby, she had that special look about her," said Janks, who picked up her first two Prairie State Festival wins. "Things don't always work out when you get a horse that looks like that from the beginning but, in her case, it did. She makes me look good."

The Purple Violet was the second stakes score for the daughter of Pioneering who captured Hawthorne's Lady Hallie Stakes in April.

Pretty Jenny, the even-money favorite, paid $4.20, $3 and $2.20. Meadow Bride was second in the 10-horse field, returning $2.80 and $2.40. Li'lbito'sunshine was third and paid $4.40.

(Chart, Equibase)

Ben Dover Stable's Take Achance On Me also won in front-running style, notching a head victory in the six-furlong $83,550 White Oak Handicap to give Emigh his second victory of the day. The son of American Chance stopped the timer in a speedy 1:09.60 with Big Bold Sweep rapidly closing in on the leader.

"I could hear the crowd, so I knew somebody was coming," Emigh said. "My horse was running great, and I asked him turning for home. Maybe I shouldn't have because he was getting tired on me the last sixteenth ... but this horse is all heart, and he just wouldn't quit."

The Mike Trombetta-trained runner previously won the Chicagoland Handicap at Hawthorne and last time out was third in the Maryland Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. III) at Pimlico. Sent off as the 6-5 favorite, he paid $4.40, $2.80, and $2.20.

Big Bold Sweep returned $4.20 and $3. It was 4 ½-lengths back to third-place finisher Silver Bid, paying $2.80.

(Chart, Equibase)

Jaguar On The Run Stable's Jaguar City drew first blood in the Festival with a one-length victory in the $85,700 Isaac Murphy Handicap. James Graham rode the daughter of Slew City Slew who covered the six furlongs in 1:10.82 and paid $3.60, $2.80, and $2.20.

The Bobby Springer-trained 5-year-old saved ground early, was tipped five wide coming into the stretch, took the lead inside the final furlong, and was drawing clear at the wire.

Miss Outrageous, a 17-1 outsider, rallied from mid-pack to finish second, paying $10 and $4.80. It was another two lengths back to Piano Tunner, who closed well from far back to finish third. She paid $2.80.

(Chart, Equibase)

The Prairie State Festival wouldn't be complete without at least one win from Team Block, who obliged with Fort Prado in the $86,950 Black Tie Affair Handicap. The son of El Prado is trained by the Festival's leading trainer Chris Block, who picked up his ninth victory, and was ridden by Eusebio Razo Jr., who notched his leading fifth PSF win.

Fort Prado sat mid pack in the 1 1/16-mile grass race, began to make up ground on the leaders on the second turn, and angled out in the stretch to take command in the final furlong and draw clear to a 1 ¾-length victory in 1:41.72.

The even-money choice in the crowd of 7,379, he paid $4, $2.80, and $2.20. Scooter Roach was second in the 11-horse field and paid $4.40 and $3. It was another three-quarters of a length back to Home of Stars, who paid $2.40.

(Chart, Equibase)