(from Arlington Park report)
Locally based runners bettered the shippers in a pair of grade III stakes for 2-year-olds on the closing day program at Arlington Park Sunday as Three Hour Nap won the $200,000 Arlington-Washington Breeders' Cup Futurity and Culinary captured top honors in the $100,000 Arlington-Washington Lassie. Hugh H. Robertson's and Homewrecker Racing LLC's Three Hour Nap split horses in the stretch to win the Futurity in a blanket three-horse finish by a neck over Elusive Chris and Straight Line, who dead-heated for second. Eusebio Razo Jr. rode the son of Afternoon Deelites who covered the mile over a fast track in 1:38.56. Trained by co-owner Robertson, Three Hour Nap is perfect in three races, all at Arlington. He earned $120,000 for winning the Futurity to push his bankroll to $158,400. Rocky River, the 3-5 post time favorite, was rank in the early going while setting a quick pace of :22.99, :45.34, 1:10.78 and 1:24.39 before fading to fourth. Razo kept Three Hour Nap about three lengths off the lead on the backstretch before launching his rally turning for home. "I could see that (Rocky River) was running off and didn't want to relax," Razo said. "I wasn't concerned about him but I was concerned about (Straight Line) turning for home. Once my horse started digging in, I knew he wasn't going to let that horse run by us." Elusive Chris, ridden by John McKee, challenged from the inside while Straight Line and C.H. Marquez Jr. fought from the outside to finish on even terms for the place spot, eight lengths clear of Rocky River. Santana Springs and Exceptional Ride completed the order of finish. Three Hour Nap paid $8.20, $4 and $3.20. Elusive Chris returned $3.60 and $3.80. Straight Line paid $4.80 and $5.60. (Chart, Equibase)Jack Smith Thoroughbreds' Culinary rallied three-wide to overtake frontrunner Mary Alex inside the furlong marker and drew off to win the Lassie by two lengths over Runway Model. Marquez rode the Mike Stidham-trained daughter of El Amante, who covered the mile in 1:36.98, more than a second faster than her male counterparts ran in the Futurity. "She's been very professional in the morning," said Marquez. "She's been training very well. I told Mr. Stidham that they better bring somebody good if they were going to beat her today." "We didn't use a prep for this race, we just worked her with some of our better horses in the morning and schooled her," Stidham added. "Carlos got off her in the morning after her last work and said that we have the winner of the Lassie." With the victory, Culinary remained unbeaten in two starts. The $60,000 winner's share for the Lassie boosted her bankroll to $78,000. Runway Model, the 2-1 betting choice, rallied from mid-pack to get up for second with Kota finishing third in the eight-horse race. Mary Alex, My Three Sisters, Bubble N Squeak, Patience Pays and Queansco followed them. Culinary paid $16, $7.80 and $4. Runway Model returned $4.20 and $3. Kota
paid $3. (Chart, Equibase)