Arlington’s Spot Plays for Saturday, July 20

A pair of stakes events for Illinois-bred runners are the centerpiece of a nine-race card at Arlington Park on Saturday. I have a handful of horses of interest to me that are worth including in your wagers. Race 4 OMAR ATTACK (#1) (3-1) finished a solid third in a swiftly run claiming event most recently and seems poised for a big run in a winnable race. James Childers trainee has early foot in a field full of closing types, and I think jockey Javier Tavares will send him from the break to lead the field at every call. Race 5 Ingrid Mason’s MIDNIGHT BLUE NOTE (#1) (5-2) went last-to-first in the stretch to beat similar on the course most recently. Midnight Lute gelding is the lone runner in the field with a win at Arlington, and he appears to be a standout to me while breaking from the rail. Race 6 A baker’s dozen will travel nine furlongs on the green in this $12,500 claiming race. COLONEL FRED (#9) (6-1) has early foot in a field with little pace, and he also could peak making his third run of 2019. Four-year-old gelding is a winner on this lawn and had a nice prep for today when a rallying fifth following a poor break on a yielding course. Carlos Marquez Jr. inherits the mount. Race 7 – Mike Spellman Memorial Handicap A field of 10 will travel 1 1/16 miles on the lawn in this black-type event. With the horse to beat parked widest of all in the field, I will take a shot for some value in the race with GAME TIME DECISION (#5) (6-1). Trained by Chris Hartman, the daughter of good turf sire Put it Back will go sprint-to-route and synthetic-to-turf in a field lacking depth. I really liked the closing effort the mare showed in her most recent grassy assignment. Race 8 – Black Tie Affair Handicap Four-time local winner CHRISTIAN C (#5) (5-1) fell a neck shy when second in his 2019 return. Wayne Catalano pupil is the defending champ in the cast and sports a solid 10-4-3-1 mark on this turf. Top local pilot Jose Valdivia Jr. will be in the stirrups and putting the contender in the hunt from the start. PHOTO: Arlington Park (c) Coady Photography/Arlington Park