wwApt to Be, who races in the colors of Arlington Park chairman Richard L. Duchossois, has accepted co-starting highweight of 119 pounds, along with Crafty Shaw, in defense of his title in the grade III Hanshin Cup Saturday at Arlington.
The $100,000 Hanshin Cup is a one-mile race for 3-year-olds and up.
Trained by Chris Block, Apt to Be is making just his second start of the season in the Hanshin. In his lone prep for this year's running, the 7-year-old gelding finished 11th in an allowance race at Hawthorne Race Course on the turf, which is not his preferred surface.
In his 2003 campaign, which was highlighted by his Hanshin score, the son of
Rahy was three for five with all of his victories coming over the Arlington dirt, where he is eight for 11 overall. Equally impressive is his record at the Hanshin distance of one mile --- six wins and two seconds from nine starts.
C. H. Marquez Jr. picks up the mount on Apt to Be, who starts from the outside post in the field of seven.
Sharing the top impost with Apt to Be is Charles J. Cella's Crafty Shaw. The son of
Crafty Prospector comes into the Hanshin off a runner-up finish in the grade III Fifth Season Stakes at Oaklawn Park. Previously, the Peter Vestal-trained horse ran second in the grade III Razorback Handicap and third in the grade III Essex Handicap, also at Oaklawn.
His lone victory of the year came in his first outing when he captured a one-mile allowance race there. Craig Perret comes in to ride Crafty Shaw, who starts from post five.
The field in post position order:
1. Wiggins, Eusebio Durazo Jr., 118, 7-2
2. Coach Jimi Lee, Rene Douglas, 117, 4-1
3. Fighting Indians, Ray Sibille, 113, 20-1
4. Kodema, Jose Martinez Jr., 116, 5-1
5. Crafty Shaw, Craig Perret, 119, 9-5
6. Attack the Books, Shane Laviolette, 115, 15-1
7. Apt to Be, Carlos Marquez Jr., 119, 3-1
