Arlington Park: I'm Already Sexy too good for Hatoof rivals

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – I’m Already Sexy had no luck when she finished a troubled fifth two weeks ago in a stakes race at Canterbury Park. She needed none Saturday at Arlington, romping to victory in the $81,050 first division of the Hatoof Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

I’m Already Sexy, with Florent Geroux up, took the early inside lead in the Hatoof, but ceded the front to Liz Pendens, who laid down fast splits (23.26 seconds for the opening quarter, 46.77 for the half) with I’m Already Sexy stalking in second. Geroux moved up I’m Already Sexy to re-engage Liz Pendens before the quarter pole, and they blew past the leader and never got a challenge, winning off by 4 3/4 lengths while stopping the timer in a fine 1:40.93 for 1 1/16 miles on firm turf.

I’m Already Sexy, a Ready’s Image filly owned by Hit the Board Stables and trained by Wayne Catalano, won for the fourth time in eight starts while scoring her first stakes victory. Catalano swept the exacta when Bold Kitten edged My Option for second.

I O Ireland ($47.40) got the jump on the other closers to win the second division of the $81,050 Hatoof Stakes, which was run some 45 minutes after the Arlington Million.

Owned by Team Block and trained by Chris Block, I O Ireland finished the about 1 1/16-mile distance in 1:41.69 on firm turf for her third win from nine lifetime starts. Every Way finished second, with Street of Gold third and the even-money favorite, Frivolous, fourth among the 10 3-year-old fillies.

- additional reporting by Marty McGee