Arlington Trip Notes and Horses to Watch (August 15-18)

The following are trip notes for horses who had tough trips the week of August 15-18 at Arlington, and/or who figure to improve in their next races. Add these runners to your horses to watch list, and bet them back next time out if they land in a reasonable spot. Racing for the week of August 15-18 at Arlington was run under very nice weather conditions and with extremely firm turf, except on Sunday when Arlington was off the turf after heavy morning rains. The main track (Polytrack) favored speed horses from Thursday thru Saturday, with many front-runners winning or outrunning their odds. Perennial leading jockey Jose Valdivia, who had lost his lead in the standings the week before, reclaimed the top slot in the jockey standings with a blazing-hot week that included a pair of four-win days. Arlington Trip Notes (August 15-18) COUNTESS ST MICHEL: Nearly caught a lone speed leader, coming up just a neck short of catching that one while clear of the rest of the field. DAME OF THRONES: Stayed in an off-the-turf race and was not a factor on the main track. Will return to form with a return to the turf. DUMBMARK: Should have been the clear speed in the race but broke poorly and never even went for the lead, then chased for third, a head out of second. Just needs a clean start. ENZOEXPRESS: Chased a wire-to-wire winning monster runaway even-money favorite and held on to be best of the rest in second when handling the local surface off a 70-day layoff. Looks good in next. HERO OF THE HOUR: Chased far off a battle up front on a front-runner's friendly firm turf course, and was the only horse to gain late for second. Usually finishes in the exacta. KLASSY KARALYNN: Had no chance to catch a flat out loose lone speed winner, but did what she could to pass horses at 5 1/2 furlongs for second. Will benefit from that first race back off a seven-month layoff and should graduate in next. KNOCKYOURBLOCKOFF: Percolated into a three-length-gap speed duel and held on strong to outrun 12-1 odds for second behind only a perfect set-up odds-on favorite. OH SO TALL: Gave an odds-on favorite a run for his money to hold on for a clear second, nearly five lengths clear of third. Can find the right spot next time. ROMEO O ROMEO: Got hooked and cooked in a six-length-gap speed duel, winning the battle but losing the war to fade for sixth. Fits well back in a Polytrack sprint. TEMPLE FUR: Had to drop over to the rail in last from a far outside draw with a short run to the first turn, then couldn't gain enough behind a slow pace. Too early to give up.   (c) Coady Photography