Dabo, W W Fitzy dominate Illinois-bred stakes

Dabo and W W Fitzy notched Illinois-bred stakes wins on Saturday at Arlington.

Dabo was a popular winner of the $53,201 Springfield Stakes for 3-year-olds, drawing away to a 5 1/4-length victory over Another Mystery. It was 10 lengths back to third place D’fever as Tak was all but eased across the finish. Colonel Klink and D’Yank were scratched, leaving a mere quartet of runners, and Dabo dominated the Springfield betting, paying $3.20 to win.

Dabo is based in Kentucky with trainer Dale Romans but the three races he’s won in a 10-start career have been at Arlington. Among them was his career debut last summer, when Dabo came from about 20 lengths back to get up by a neck for owner-breeder-trainer Brad Rainwater. That performance led West Point Thoroughbreds and Tom Hammond’s Peacock Stable to purchase Dabo, and while Dabo has yet to break through at the open stakes level, he’s been a useful horse and his earnings went into six figures with Saturday’s win.

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Tak and D’fever ripped through an intemperate early pace, going a half-mile on Polytrack in 45.10 seconds and leaving the real running to Another Mystery and Dabo. Those two moved in tandem past the three-furlong pole but Dabo and Jose Valdivia Jr. were clearly doing the better work and came away with a comfortable win. Dabo, by Temple City out of Sullied But Sweet, by Conveyor, was timed in 1:36.72 for the one-turn mile.

Later on the card, W W Fitzy wore down Sister Ruler to win the $78,225 Sharon Kirby Memorial for 3-year-old fillies by 7 1/2 lengths. Sister Ruler, the 7-5 favorite, went to the lead from post 2 with 9-5 chance W W Fitzy pressing her down the backstretch and around the far turn. Sister Ruler raced in hand but when asked for run at the quarter pole came up empty as W W Fitzy ran on, pulling clear through the final furlong to win easily. Sister Ruler easily held second over Stopshoppingamy.

Chris Emigh rode W W Fitzy for trainer Scott Becker and owner-breeder Bill Stiritz. W W Fitzy, who ran a one-turn Polytrack mile in 1:37.34 and paid $5.60, is by Well Positioned out of Stormy Fitz, by Stormy Atlantic.