Arrowthegreat likely for shortened Tokyo City Cup

Arrowthegreat, winner of the $125,000 Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs on Aug. 17, is likely to run in the $85,000 Tokyo City Cup at a mile at Santa Anita on Oct. 25 in his next start.

Trainer Dan Blacker said recently that the distance of the Tokyo City Cup is a deciding factor. Even slightly longer races are not ideal for Arrowthegreat, who has won 4 of 18 starts with all the wins at a mile in the last two years.

“We tried him farther, at a mile and a sixteenth, and he doesn’t fire,” Blacker said. “At a mile and an eighth, he’s not as good. He’s a miler.”

:: Del Mar Clocker Reports are available every race day. Go beyond the PPs with exclusive morning workout notes straight from the track.

The Tokyo City Cup was previously run at 1 1/2 miles on dirt, but the race frequently drew small fields. Track officials altered the distance this year, which cost the Tokyo City Cup its status as a Grade 3.

In its position on the calendar in late October, the Tokyo City Cup may draw runners from the Grade 1 Goodwood Stakes at 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita on Sept. 27 or serve as a prep for the Grade 3 Native Diver Stakes at 1 1/8 miles at Del Mar in late November.

For Arrowthegreat, the race will be an autumn focus at the 5-year-old gelding’s ideal distance.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.