Arlington, Aristides lack clarity, but not contenders

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The “A” train leaves the station Saturday when the Arlington and Aristides are run back-to-back on the Foster Preview Day card at Churchill Downs.

Both the $200,000 Arlington and $200,000 Aristides are stepping-stones toward corresponding races for older horses on the July 2 Stephen Foster card. The Grade 3 Arlington is a prep for the Grade 2 Wise Dan, while the Aristides leads to the Kelly’s Landing.

Arlington (race 8)

Trainer Brian Lynch steps up with a pair of 7-year-old geldings in Admission Office (post 1, John Velazquez) and Gray’s Fable (post 6, Julien Leparoux), whose opposing styles make them an imposing one-two punch in this 1 1/16-mile turf race. Admission Office is a left-field closer making his first start in 15 months, while Gray’s Fable came into Lynch’s care following a wire-to-wire triumph for Roger Attfield in the Opening Verse during Kentucky Derby week.

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Either horse could have his way, depending on how the pace unfolds. Gray’s Fable probably will have to deal with Get Smokin (post 4, Javier Castellano) in the early going, and if they go too fast, that could create a scenario to favor a stalker such as Floriform (post 2, Tyler Gaffalione) or Field Pass (post 5, Ricardo Santana Jr.), or maybe even allow Admission Office to blow by them all.

“I do like the way Admission Office has trained,” Lynch said.

Both Gray’s Fable and Get Smokin have shown themselves capable of forging on ahead, regardless of pressure, making for a very interesting 86th running of this race, formerly held at now-shuttered Arlington Park.

Aristides (race 9)

Unlike some of the other stakes on the day, the six-furlong Aristides lacks a clear-cut favorite – and an obvious front-runner. Miles Ahead (post 2, Joe Talamo) and Top Gunner (post 6, Reylu Gutierrez) both have enough speed to make the lead down the backside, but although each has won a stakes already this year, neither is the type to set blazing early fractions that often transpire in a race at this level.

Most of the rest are quick enough to stay close, and one possible result is a mad scramble once they all turn for home.

Bango (post 1, Gaffalione) stands to benefit in a big way from a last-out fourth-place finish behind Top Gunner in a Kentucky Derby week stakes, with his 6-for-12 record at Churchill for Greg Foley being a strong variable in his favor. Necker Island (post 4, Mitch Murrill) was a rallying winner of the fall counterpart to this race, the Bet On Sunshine, and he’s another solid threat, even if the on-paper pace scenario doesn’t necessarily favor his style.

Pyron (post 3, Velazquez) has posted eye-catching Beyer Speed Figures and can easily be forgiven a last-out debacle, while a two-back victory by Bob’s Edge (post 5, Adam Beschizza) in the Grade 3 Whitmore at Oaklawn Park makes him a threat here, too.