Arlington Trip Notes and Horses to Watch (July 4-7)

The following are trip notes for horses who had bad or tough trips the week of July 4-7 at Arlington Park, and/or who figure to improve in their next races. Add these horses 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 July 4-7 at Arlington was run under mostly clear and very hot conditions. The races on Thursday, July 4, and Friday, July 5, was off the turf. Turf racing returned on Saturday, July 6, under good turf conditions. Sunday, July 7, featured the first racing under firm turf conditions for the entire Arlington meet, which began back on May 3. The horses listed below exit races run at Arlington during the week of July 4-7, and all of them have good chances to run well, outrun their odds, and/or win in their subsequent starts. Arlington Trip Notes (July 4-7) CANTON COMET: Handled the local surface but could not handle a loose lone speed runaway winner. Closed to be a clear second and should come out on top next time. ED’S ROCKET: Got hooked and cooked in a four-length-gap speed duel. Finished off the board but can make amends if able to make the lead. HELLO AMERICA: Got off to a rough start and settled for third in another off-the-turf race, but will be ready to graduate as soon as he gets on the grass. INSANE LIFESTYLE: Got hooked and cooked in a speed duel and beat the early challenger but emptied out as a result of those efforts. Can shake loose off the claim by Roger Brueggemann. LADY WARRIOR: Battled back and forth for the lead and ran on to just miss by a neck to a perfect set-up stalker when clearly second best. MICHAEL T: Shook off an early duel with the odds-on favorite and just kept on going for a dominating maiden win after the early challenger emptied out to last. Loves this surface and is likely to repeat up at the next level. MUCHA MEZQUINA: Given an inhospitable welcoming upon arrival from Churchill Downs, getting stopped in traffic and checked in mid-stretch. Came again late for fourth and just needs a clean trip. PURELY BOY: Has no early speed and got pinched far back at the start on top of it to be far back in a race with no pace. Will improve upon the fifth-place finish. RUN YOU RACE: Wasn’t able to run his race when stuck in traffic and snatched up in midstretch. Just needs clear sailing. SHANGHAI POINT: Got hooked in a 3 1/2-length-gap speed duel and beat the challenger but got passed in the stretch as a result and settled for third. Lost by just a length and can go all the way so try again. PHOTO: Arlington Park (c) Coady Photography/Arlington Park