Arlington Trip Notes and Horses to Watch (July 18-21)

The following are trip notes for horses who had tough trips the week of July 18-21 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. All of them have good chances to run well, outrun their odds, and/or win in their subsequent starts. Racing for the week of July 18-21 at Arlington was run under mostly very warm conditions, and a few big storms knocked racing off the turf for the majority of the week, with the exception of two races on Saturday run on less-than-firm turf. A big storm hit the track prior to race 1 on Thursday, which seemed to result in a strong main track speed bias on Thursday and Friday. Another big storm hit mid-card on Saturday, resulting in more speed-biased main track racing late on Saturday and again on Sunday. CAT'S RUNAWAY: Threw in a clunker but with an excuse after breaking slow to start last on a speed-biased track. Just needs a better break. EXPROMPT: Passed horses on a speed-favoring track and ran big but lost by a head while three lengths clear of the third-place horse in a good effort in defeat behind a well-meant foreign invader. Remains in fine form at present. FOUR LEFT FEET: Pinched back leaving the gate then closed from dead last to win a three-way photo but as much the best. Likely repeater. HE'S DANN GOOD: Raced into a tight spot in the stretch and then bulled his way free but lost valuable time and lost a three-way win photo to settle for an unlucky third. Just needs a real rider to win. IOYA AGAIN: Bumped back and forth with a rival at the start to begin last, then had to use to gain position and ran on to the finish to be fourth but beaten less than three lengths. NURSE SADIE: Closed from far back in last in a nine-horse field to get up for second in a big effort against the bias on a speed-favoring track. Sitting on the maiden win now. STELLA D'ORO: Irish invader came in for trainer Jack Sisterson and looked like the real deal to win an off-the-turf 1 1/8-mile race from off the pace against the bias. Outfought a strong challenger and should repeat. STORMINSIDE: Got hooked in a four-length-gap speed duel in unrealistic 7 1/2-furlong fractions, even on a speed-favoring track, and outlasted the early challenger to be second behind a perfect-trip horse who sat off the duel. Can shake loose and go all the way. TRUMPIFIED: Made a race out of it in the late stages to nearly catch a loose-on-the-lead 1-5 Rivelli favorite. Lost by a head on the wire and was six lengths clear of the third horse and looks good next time. VOLOGRAD: Pressed and set the pace on a slow, yielding turf course and finished clearly the best of the front runners for second in a race where the deepest closers finished 1-3-4.   (c) Coady Photography/Arlington Park