Grade I winner Hooh Why may appear to tower over her foes in terms of accomplishments going into the May 25 Arlington Matron Stakes (gr. III) at Arlington Park, but time will tell whether the 7-year-old daughter of Cloud Hopping can put it together on race day.
The seventh race on the card, the 1 1/8-mile Arlington Matron has attracted a field of nine and is slated for 4:08 p.m. CDT.
Hooh Why will enter the Arlington Matron off a head victory in the Distaff Turf Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, but before that the chestnut mare was winless in 11 starts. Second in the last year's Arlington Matron, Hooh Why has won six stakes since starting her career as a juvenile in 2008, including the 2009 Ashland (gr. I) and 2010 Seaway Stakes (Can-III).
The earner of more than $1.2 million will be saddled for the second time by trainer Rick Slomkowski for owners Mark Hoffman and Earl Trostud Jr. With a seasoned career slate of 12-12-9 from 51 starts, Hooh Why will be ridden by the meet's leading jockey Emmanuel Esquivel and will break from post 8.
Bred in Florida by Gail Gee, Hooh Why is out of the Corporate Report mare Magic Merger.
G. Watts Humphrey Jr.'s Ice Cream Silence should also prove to be tough in the Arlington Matron, as she enters off a neck victory in the April 19 Hillard Lyons Doubledogdare Stakes (gr. III) over the Keeneland Polytrack.
The 4-year-old daughter of Street Sense —Double Scoop, by Seeking the Gold will carry co-top weight of 123 pounds in the race. Trained by Rusty Arnold for G. Watts Humphrey, she will be ridden by Joe Rocco Jr.
William Butler's Lotta Lovin, a proven stakes winner on Polytrack, invades for trainer Mike Maker. The daughter of Repent is a five-time stakes winner. She has notched six of her seven career victories over all-weather surfaces. Mike Smith has been named to ride the 4-year-old filly.
Lotta Lovin finished fifth to Ice Cream Silence in the Doubledogdare, but was beaten only 4 1/2 lengths. Before that, she posted a runaway 10 1/4-length victory in the Jan. 19 Likely Exchange Stakes at Turfway Park.
Rounding out the field are other stakes winners Distorted Legacy, Sisterhood (second in the Doubledogdare), and Diva's Diamond; and stakes-placed runners Ausus, Imposing Grace, and Absolute Crackers.
$150,000 Arlington Matron Stakes (gr. III, approximate post time 4:80 p.m. EDT), fillies and mares, 3YOs and up, 1 1/8 miles (all weather track)
PP, Horse, Jockey, Trainer
1. Distorted Legacy (KY), G K Gomez, 116, A M Stall Jr.
2. Ice Cream Silence (KY), J Rocco Jr., 123, G R Arnold II
3. Sisterhood (KY), J Moreira, 116, W A Ward
4. Diva's Diamond (IL), T Thornton, 123, C H Silva
5. Ausus (KY), J Graham, 116, D C Peitz
6. Lotta Lovin (PA), M E Smith, 118, M J Maker
7. Imposing Grace (KY), C Hill, 116, W M Catalano
8. Hooh Why (FL), E Esquivel, 120, M L Reavis
9. Absolute Crackers (IRE), E Castro, 116, H G Motion
