Arctic Arrogance breezes for Withers Stakes
OZONE PARK, N.Y. -- Just eight days after finishing second in the Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct, Arctic Arrogance returned to the work tab Sunday morning at Belmont Park, breezing a half-mile in 50.47 seconds in preparation for a start in the Grade 3, $250,000 Withers Stakes on Feb. 4.
Trainer Linda Rice said she worked Arctic Arrogance so soon after his last race because he’s been a difficult horse to keep weight off and that he missed a workout leading up to the Jerome, something Rice felt may have hampered him in the race.
“His weight got away from me between races and we missed a work over the holidays,” Rice said. “I don’t want that to happen leading into the Withers. I can’t afford to miss a work.”
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Also, Rice put a set of blinkers on Arctic Arrogance for Sunday’s work, which was done in company with the 6-year-old gelding Cousin Andrew. Rice said Arctic Arrogance ran away from Cousin Andrew on the gallop-out.
Rice said after the Jerome she might toy with blinkers after Arctic Arrogance showed a reluctance go past Lugan Knight, whom he seemed poised to pass in the stretch. Ultimately, Arctic Arrogance was beaten a half-length by Lugan Knight, the same margin he was beaten by Dubyuhnell in the Grade 2 Remsen on Dec. 3.
Rice had Jose Lezcano, Arctic Arrogance’s regular rider, work the horse on Sunday. Rice said Lezcano told her Arctic Arrogance in blinkers “felt a little more attentive but wasn’t rank. I wouldn’t want him to be rank going a mile and an eighth. I might use them.”
Nominations for the Withers, the winner of which earns 20 qualifying points to the May 6 Kentucky Derby, don’t close until next weekend. Neither Remsen winner Dubyuhnell or Jerome winner Lugan Knight are expected to run in the Withers.
General Banker, a well-beaten third in the Jerome following a victory in the $500,000 Great White Way division of the New York Stallion Series, is being considered for the Withers, trainer Jimmy Ferraro said Sunday.
“We’re going to look at it and see what’s going on,” said Ferraro, who mentioned the $100,000 Gander Stakes for New York-breds on Feb. 25 as another option.
Ferraro said owner John Forma has expressed an interest in trying to get General Banker enough points to make the Derby.
“I told the owner we got that New York-bred option all year long,” Ferraro said.
Downtown Mischief impresses on debut
While Arctic Arrogance may be the top New York-bred 3-year-old male in her barn, trainer Linda Rice unveiled a pretty nice looking 3-year-old New York-bred filly on Saturday in Downtown Mischief.
A daughter of Into Mischief out of the dam Downtown Mama owned and bred by Sheila Rosenblum, Downtown Mischief won a six-furlong maiden race by 7 3/4 lengths. She covered the distance in 1:12.53 and earned a 77 Beyer Speed Figure.
“She ran pretty well,” Rice said.
Rice said there were high hopes for Downtown Mama going into the race considering her breeding. The mare won her first three races before she revealed herself as a bleeder and was ultimately retired.
“We were hoping she might be a decent broodmare,” Rice said. “This is her first foal, kind of exciting.”
Rice said she would likely look for an allowance race for Downtown Mischief.
The next New York-bred stakes for 3-year-old fillies is Sunday’s $100,000 Franklin Square, where Rice will run Les Bon Temps for the first time. Rosenblum purchased majority interest in the filly following her victory in the $500,000 Fifth Avenue division of the NYSS on Dec. 17. She had been trained by Mike Maker.
Rice will also be in stakes action Saturday, as she plans to run both Betsy Blue and Piece of My Heart in the $100,000 Interborough Stakes.
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