Catalano's next wave begins

CHICAGO - Before Arlington Park even got rolling this summer Wayne Catalano said that to contend for the training title at this marathon meet, you had to send horses out in waves. Three weeks in, Catalano and his owner, Frank Calabrese, basically have run through their first wave of horses, which has given them 10 wins and a lead in the trainer and owner standings.

The reinforcements start to show up Thursday. Catalano's lone entrant of the day is Dynamic Lady, who makes her first start on this circuit in the eighth race, a first-level filly-and-mare turf allowance. The race drew enough entries to be split into two divisions, and the other half - the sixth race - combines with a pair of 2-year-old filly maiden races to create an interesting card.

Catalano went to California a couple months ago and picked out five horses for Calabrese to buy. Dynamic Lady, another older racehorse, and a once-started 2-year-old, came out of a dispersal of racing stock, while Catalano also found a pair of unraced 2-year-olds at the Barretts sale.

A 4-year-old with 10 starts, Dynamic Lady's stock rose last fall when she was transferred to turf, and though she failed to win a first-level allowance in seven tries, she finished second three times and third another while facing better horses than her rivals Thursday.

Catalano expects the string of near misses to end soon. "Hopefully we'll take care of that Thursday," he said. "She worked pretty good the other day."

On paper, the obvious threat to Dynamic Lady is Red Wildcat, who won an off-the-turf maiden race here June 5 by almost six lengths. Red Wildcat ran well the only time she tried turf, finishing second on this course last summer to Dear Lou Lou, a sharp filly at that time.

Time for a check-up, vacation

Fan Club's Mister, ninth here last Saturday in the Cardinal Handicap, went to a veterinary clinic Tuesday to undergo precautionary tests.

"I don't think there's anything wrong with him," said trainer Rickey Harris. "We just want to make sure."

Even with a clean bill of health, Fan Club's Mister will get some time off, Harris said.

- Saturday's Arlington Classic, a $175,000 grass race for 3-year-olds, will get a boost if Claiborne Farm and trainer Bill Mott decide to supplement the exciting colt Patrol to the race. The lightly raced Patrol is 2 for 2 on turf.

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