Boyce takes two shots at Sharon Kirby Memorial
Trainer Michele Boyce, stabled summers at Arlington since 1995, never has won more than 20 races at a single Arlington meeting, but in this, likely the last-ever Arlington season, Boyce has a chance at a career-best win mark. Through racing on Aug. 4, her stable had sent out 14 winners from 41 starters, and Boyce has two live chances Saturday in the $75,000 Sharon Kirby Memorial Stakes.
The Kirby is for Illinois-bred 3-year-old fillies at one mile on turf and shares top billing on the eight-race Saturday card with the $75,000 Richard Hazelton Memorial, for Illinois-bred 3-year-olds at one mile on turf.
Boyce’s runners are Cat Attack, who has three wins from her four turf races and is perfect in two starts this year, and Katie M’Lady, an Arlington maiden turf-route winner last summer who easily captured an Illinois-bred turf-route allowance June 4 in her only start this season. Both fillies have speed. Cat Attack’s top Beyer Speed Figure is 75, Katie M’Lady’s is 73.
“They’re pretty close, those two fillies,” said Boyce. “I almost have to give an edge to Cat. Katie’s been off a while, and she might not be quite as sharp right now as the Cat is. I’ll close my eyes and hope for the best.”
Boyce also has Beealea in the Hazelton, but is sanguine about his chances facing three from leading trainer Larry Rivelli.
“All the Rivellis, especially the one that looks like he’s so much better, seem tough there,” she said. “We might all be running for second.”
The horse to whom Boyce referred is Richiesgotgame, a likely odds-on favorite. Richiesgotgame won the Futurity at Hawthorne last season in his only start against Illinois-breds and comes off a blowout win against open company over Arlington’s Polytrack. On turf, Richiesgotgame finished second and fifth facing open competition over the winter at Gulfstream Park and won an Arlington maiden race last summer.