Cammack takes Les Ahrens Memorial Stakes on closing day

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – On closing day of the 2017 meeting, it was fitting that Arlington-loving Cammack won the $66,600 Les Ahrens Memorial Stakes.

Cammack now has six wins and a second from 13 Arlington turf races. He had finished second in the Black Tie Affair and sixth in the Grade 3 Arlington Handicap in his two previous races over the course this year, but jumped back to his best Saturday to defeat several horses that had finished in front of him in those two races.

Camack and jockey Jose Lopez, who hugged the rail around both turns in this one-mile turf race, made the most of a favorable trip. Oak Brook went out to lead and Cammack was second into the first turn, but Applicator and, to his outside, Kasaqui came aggressively around the first bend, relegating Cammack to fourth – which was perfect.

Applicator and Kasaqui, the pace a slow 50.77 seconds to the half-mile, continued to run relatively freely, overtaking Oak Brook before the second turn as Cammack and Lopez watched things unfold and waited. Lopez took his mount off the rail after cornering for home, drafted along behind three-wide Kasaqui past the three-sixteenths pole, then came outside the three leaders. Lopez asked Cammack for his best and Cammack gave it, coming home his final quarter-mile in about 22.60 seconds to win by one length.

Kasaqui, the 4-5 favorite, finished second by a head over Applicator, with Oak Brook almost three lengths farther back in fourth. Cammack, who paid $18.80 to win, was timed in 1:36.22 for the mile over firm turf, though the final time was relatively meaningless in a race this slow-paced.

Chris Block trains Cammack for his family’s Team Block racing and breeding partnership. Cammack, a 7-year-old gelding, is an Illinois-bred by Giant’s Causeway out of Fort Pond, by Fortunate Prospect, making him a brother to the sire and multiple graded-stakes-winning millionaire Fort Prado.

Daddy’s Boo best in Morgan

There is nothing more effective in horse-racing than manageable speed. Daddy’s Boo and jockey Jose Valdivia Jr. put on a clinic in the field Saturday at Arlington, leading from start to finish in the $67,500 Steve Morgan Memorial Stakes.

Daddy’s Boo broke from post 1, glided right onto the lead, and was gently reined in to go a moderate first quarter-mile in 24.60 and a half-mile in a slow 50.19. Then, instead of waiting for her chasers to catch up, Valdivia let Daddy’s Boo out around the turn, coming into the homestretch with a full head of steam and a clear lead. Still fresh after straightening away, Daddy’s Boo zipped home a fast final quarter, getting her mile in 1:35.50 and winning by four lengths over Prado’s Sweet Ride, a Grade 3-type on her day.

Stormin Elle, who tried to run with Daddy’s Boo around the far turn, finished third. The 2.4-1 favorite, Daddy’s Boo paid $6.80 to win.

Daddy’s Boo is owned by Vince Foglia’s Patricia’s Hope LLC and trained by Larry Rivelli, meaning she had all this meet’s leading connections in her corner. A 6-year-old mare by Sweet Return out of Precocious Pet, by Slew Gin Fizz, Daddy’s Boo has been a prolific winner while lightly raced, and she made her 15th trip to the winner’s circle Saturday after her 24th start.