Jerry Hollendorfer & Marta Racing Ventures' Christmas Time, undefeated in two starts, heads the list of probable Top Flight Stakes starters Saturday at Arlington Park.The 2-year-old daughter of Gilded Time, also trained by Hollendorfer, broke her maiden in her career debut by 2-1/2 lengths on June 27 and came back to tally by 1-1/2 lengths Aug. 11 when racing in conditioned allowance company. Both races were at Arlington.The $75,000 Top Flight is Arlington Park's final local prep for the Arlington-Washington Lassie (gr. III), the traditional main event of the season for juvenile distaffers. This year, however, the Lassie will be part of Preview Weekend at the Park September 28-29, four weeks before the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships at Arlington Park Oct. 26.
Those likely to oppose Christmas Time in the Top Flight include Robert D. Nash's Golden Dayjur; Peter Stamas & Crown's Way Farm's Invader; Nelson Bunker Hunt's Souris; and Coast To Coast Racing Fund LLC's You Glitter Girl.
Golden Dayjur, a Maryland-bred, broke her maiden by 6 lengths at Mountaineer Park Aug. 20 for trainer Bernie Flint. That trainer won the Lassie in 2000 with Thunder Bertie, defeating eventual 2-year-old filly champion Caressing.Souris is a daughter of Defrere who broke her maiden at first asking by 4 –1/2 lengths at Arlington Aug. 1.You Glitter Girl, a daughter of Glitterman, visited the winner's circle for the first time following her fourth career start and second straight at Arlington on Aug. 3.
