Olmadavor, Colonial Colony Rumble in Washington Park

Wertheimer & Frere's Olmodavor -- high-weighted at 121 pounds --
and Lakeside Farm's recent grade I stakes winner Colonial Colony headline a field of five in the Washington Park Handicap (gr. II) Saturday at Arlington Park.

Marking the 71st renewal of one of Arlington's signature races -- andwith a purse of $350,000 on the line -- the 9 1/2-furlong Washington Park holds the distinction of being the richest dirt race of the 2004 Arlington Park season.

A son of A.P. Indy, Olmodavor invades from Southern California off his most recent start, a second-place finish to Total Impact in the Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I). The Richard Mandella-trained 5-year-old ran fourth in both the Mervyn LeRoy Handicap (gr. II) at Hollywood and the Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I).

A winner in five of 14 starts including the Native Diver Handicap (gr. III) at Hollywood, and the Whirlaway Handicap (gr. III) at Fair Grounds, Olmodavor will be ridden for the first time by Kentucky- based jockey John McKee.

Colonial Colony -- who shares second-high impost at 118 pounds -- ships in from Churchill after an upset (62-1) of his rivals in the Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) in June. Following that score, the Walter Bindner-trained son of Pleasant Colony ran a strong fourth in the Suburban Handicap (gr. I) at Belmont on July 3, beaten only a length by winner Peace Rules.

Rafael Bejarano -- North America's leading rider by races won -- has the mount.

Also in at 118 is John D. Murphy Sr.'s The Lady's Groom. A son of Runaway Groom, The Lady's Groom finished second in the R. R. M. Carpenter Jr. Memorial Handicap July 17 at Delaware Park in his last start. Prior to that effort, the Michael Gorham-trained 4-year-old finished third -- beaten only a neck by Offlee Wild and Funny Cide in the Massachusetts Handicap (gr. II) at Suffolk Downs.

Norberto Arroyo, Jr. gets the call for Murphy and Gorham.

Adele B. Dilschneider and Claiborne Farm's Congrats arrives from the East following a fifth-place finish in the Brooklyn Handicap (gr. II) last month at Belmont. Earlier this year, the A. P. Indy 4-year-old won back-to-back races in Kentucky including the Alysheba Stakes at Churchill Downs April 30.

Arlington Park's leading rider, Rene Douglas gets the call to ride the Shug McGaughey-trained colt, who will carry 116.

Completing the well-matched field is John D.Gunther's Eye of the Tiger. The son of American Chance, Eye of the Tiger has been running middle distances of late, winning a third-level allowance over a mile in his last start at Belmont. The Kiaran McLaughlin charge finished third in the Carter Handicap (gr. I) at Aqueduct.

Eye of the Tiger will carry 115 pounds including rider Eusebio Razo Jr.

Past winners of the Washington Park Handicap include Hall of Fame horses Armed, Coaltown, Swaps, Round Table, Gun Bow, Dr. Fager, and Spectacular Bid -- as well as Arlington-based, 1991 Horse of the Year Black Tie Affair.

Washington Park Handicap (gr. II), 3-year-olds and upward, 13/16 miles--Approx. Post Time 4:25 PM EDT

PP, Horse, Weight, Jockey

1--Congrats, 116, Rene Douglass
2--The Lady's Groom, 118, Norberto Arroyo, Jr.
3--Colonial Colony, 118, Rafael Bejarano
4--Olmadavor, 121, John McKee
5--Eye of the Tiger, 115, Eusebio Razo, Jr.