Arctic Arrogance's rally pays off in Sleepy Hollow Stakes
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
Arctic Arrogance, passed at the three-eighths pole by two horses, came back on again turning for home and drew clear to a 4 1/2-length victory in Sunday’s $200,000 Sleepy Hollow Stakes for New York-bred 2-year-olds, the last of eight stakes on Empire Showcase Day at Aqueduct.
Arctic Arrogance is owned and bred by longtime New Yorkbreeders Chester and Mary Broman, who amazingly bred the top four finishers in the race. Arctic Arrogance was followed across the wire by Quick to Accuse, who was 1 1/4 lengths clear of Starquist (also owned by the Bromans) and Donegal Surges.
“There’s no race, whether it be open or in New York state period, that you’re not going to find some Broman-bred horses,” winning trainer Linda Rice said. “They have a great program. Chester Broman has worked with Becky Thomas now for decades and they’ve really put together a great program and I’m just fortunate to be a part of it.”
Arctic Arrogance, a son of Frosted, won his debut at Saratoga and then was upset at 4-5 by Jackson Heights in the Bertram F. Bongard. Rice said that Arctic Arrogance is a hard horse to keep fit and “when we left Saratoga I felt like we let his weight get away from him and I think that cost us in our last race.”
Rice said that she put more pressure on Arctic Arrogance in his training in between starts “and I think it really paid off,” she said.
Arctic Arrogance broke sharply under Jose Lezcano, set fractions of 23.62 seconds for the quarter and 47.93 while being stalked by Starquist, whom the Bromans also own but who is trained by John Kimmel. Both Starquist and Quick to Accuse went by Arctic Arrogance on the middle of the turn, but Lezcano hadn’t really asked his horse to run yet.
When Lezcano did ask, Arctic Arrogance responded and gradually pulled away to win convincingly.
Arctic Arrogance covered the mile in 1:37.90 and returned $12 to win.
The win capped a strong meet for Rice, who won 18 races, second to Chad Brown’s 25 in the standings at the Belmont at Aqueduct meeting.
Les Bon Temps takes Maid of the Mist
Les Bon Temps finished three-quarters of a length behind Miracle when those two finished second and third, respectively, behind Gambling Girl in the $120,000 Joseph A. Gimma Stakes at Aqueduct on Sept. 23.
On Sunday, when all three fillies met again in the $200,00 Maid of the Mist Stakes, it was Les Bon Temps who showed an affinity for added distance, overtaking the pacesetting Miracle in deep stretch and going on to win by three-quarters of a length.
It was 13 1/2 lengths back to the maiden Silver Skillet in third. Gambling Girl, coming off two blowout wins, may have regressed and could manage only a fourth-place finish.
In the Gimma, Les Bon Temps found herself setting the pace. Sunday, with Luis Saez riding for the first time, Les Bon Temps sat third early while Miracle set the pace, chased by Banterra.
At the quarter pole, after six furlongs went in 1:11.73, Saez got Les Bon Temps off the rail, and despite not changing leads in the stretch, was able to wear down Miracle.
“Last time she was on the lead and she ran pretty good, but there were a couple of speed horses outside so we decided to save ground and try to keep him away from the dirt in her face,” Saez said. “When we got to the top of the stretch she gave me a good kick. We were battling together with the other one and in the final jump we got there.”
Les Bon Temps, a daughter of Laoban owned by Deuce Greathouse, Cindy Hutson and Brett Setzer, and trained by Mike Maker covered the mile in 1:37.80 and returned $29 to win.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.