Grade I stakes winner Ballingarry heads a field of nine turf specialists entered for Saturday's 72nd running of the Grade III $200,000-added Stars and Stripes Breeders' Cup Turf over 1 1/2 miles at Arlington Park.
Ballingarry, who races for the partnership of the Sidney Port Trust, Naify and San Gabriel Investments, will carry starting high weight of 121 pounds for the Stars and Stripes. The 4-year-old son of Sadler's Wells ships to Arlington from his Southern California homebase after finishing third in the $400,000 Jim Murray Memorial Handicap at Hollywood Park in May.
Last year, Ballingarry trainee made his North American debut by capturing the Grade I Canadian International at Woodbine. Purchased privately shortly after that victory, he is now trained by Laura de Seroux. Rene Douglas, who won this race last year aboard John Chandler's Cetewayo, has the mount.
A main rival could be Dr. Brendler, who comes into the Stars and Stripes off a third-place finish in the Grade I Manhattan Handicap on the Belmont Stakes undercard June 7.
The Distant View horse, trained by H. Graham Motion, previously captured the Grade II Citgo Dixie Handicap at Pimlico on the Preakness Day undercard and an allowance race at Keeneland in April at the 1 1/2-mile Stars and Stripes distance.
Williams News, the 2000 Stars and Stripes victor, returns to Arlington in search of his first victory since taking top honors in the Grade III Elkhorn at Keeneland in the Spring of 2001. The 8-year-old Alleged gelding was third in this year's renewal of the Elkhorn. Most recently the Al Stall Jr. trainee ran sixth in the Grade III Louisville Handicap at Churchill Downs.
PP, Horse, Jockey, Weight
1. Ballingarry, Rene Douglas, 121
2. Jack's Own Time , Tommy Molina, 112
3. Dr. Brendler , Curt C. Bourque, 118
4. Scooter Roach, Jesse Campbell, 113
5. Williams News, Marlon St. Julien, 115
6. Extra Check , Earlie Fires, 114
7. Private Son, Eusebio Razo, Jr., 114
8. North of Six, Frank Lovato, Jr., 113
9. Ivan Jay Perry, Christopher A. Emigh, 113
