Beau's Town just fine

Beau's Town is a horse who wins more races than he loses, which made his 10th place finish in last month's Grade 1 Bing Crosby Breeders' Cup a surprise. But he had a logical excuse for the defeat, and is headed next to the $150,000 Arlington Breeders' Cup Sprint at Arlington Park on Aug. 28, said his owner, Dave Hulkewicz.

Beau's Town is a horse who likes to be in his races early, and he was anything but in the Bing Crosby. He broke sixth and was shuffled back, in a stark contrast to his front-running win in the race last year. It was a rare defeat for Beau's Town, who has won 11 of 19 career starts and earned $581,330.

"The race is a throw out," said Hulkewicz. "We're going to regroup and come back in Chicago. He came out of the race perfect."

Beau's Town returned to his Louisiana Downs base on July 27, and it is there he will prepare for the Arlington Breeders' Cup. The gelding's long-term goal remains the Breeders' Cup Sprint, which will be held at Lone Star Park on Oct. 30.

Earlier this year, Beau's Town set a track record for six furlongs at Lone Star. He was considered a top contender for the Sprint last year before sustaining a small bone chip in an ankle in his final prep for the Breeders' Cup.

Beau's Town, who is trained by Cole Norman, is a seven-time stakes winner. Among his stakes wins are the Grade 3 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap at Oaklawn Park and the Pelleteri Breeders' Cup at Fair Grounds.

A rider for the Arlington Breeders' Cup has not been determined, said Hulkewicz. Mike Smith rode Beau's Town in the Bing Crosby as a late replacement for the injured Alex Solis.

Payasito one to catch in feature

Payasito will be one to catch in the featured 10th race Friday at Louisiana Downs, a two-other-than allowance at about a mile on turf. He will be shooting for his fourth win at the meet. Payasito won three consecutive starter allowance races on the front end earlier this meet, and in his last two starts has been second. He was runner-up in a starter allowance two back, and last out was beaten a half-length by the tough Cajole in an optional claimer.

Jorge Gomez trains Payasito and has given the mount to John Jacinto.

* Trainer Bubba Cascio will send out a first-time starter named Justa Old Love in the 11th race on Friday. Several years ago, Cascio trained a Grade 1-winning Quarter Horse named Justanold Love. She won the Champion of Champions and the All-American Derby for total career earnings of $949,836.