Ballingarry, well known at Arlington Park because of his two wins in the Stars and Stripes Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IIIT) there, will start as the highweight in Saturday's Arlington Handicap (gr. IIIT).
The 10-furlong event is a prep for the Arlington Million (gr. IT) which will be run Aug. 14. Saturday's card also includes the Modesty Handicap (gr. III) and American Derby (gr. II).
Irish-bred Ballingarry is owned by Sid Port, Marsha Naify, and San Gabriel Investments and is trained by Laura de Seroux. The 5-year-old son of Sadler's Wells will carry high weight of 121 pounds including leading jockey Rene Douglas.
Team Block's Mystery Giver, the 2002 Illinois Horse of the Year, looks to rebound after finishing sixth in the Cardinal Handicap at Arlington June 26. The 6-year-old Dynaformer gelding won the grade II Mervyn Muniz Jr. Handicap at the Fair Grounds this winter. He is trained by Chris Block and will be ridden by Carlos Marquez Jr.
Robert & Beverly Lewis' Senor Swinger, who began his career in Chicago, returns to Illinois for the first time since being purchased by the Lewises in 2003. The El Prado colt comes in after running second through the line but disqualified to third for coming out in the stretch in the grade II Firecracker Breeders' Cup Handicap at Churchill Downs July 3. Prior to that, the Bob Baffert-trained 4-year-old won the Opening Verse at Churchill. Brice Blanc has been named to ride.
The complete field for the $250,000 stakes, in post position order:
1. Senor Swinger, 118 pounds, Brice Blanc
2. On the Course, 112, Mark Guidry
3. Mystery Giver, 120, Carlos H. Marquez, Jr.
4. Grey Beard, 115, Frank Lovato, Jr.
5. Ballingarry, 121, Rene R. Douglas
6. Sharbayan, 117, Rafael Bejarano
7. Rowans Park, 114, Eusebio Razo, Jr.
