Disco Barbie tries to maintain synthetic-surface form in Chicago Handicap
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ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – The 4-year-old filly Disco Barbie started four times in 2012 and two times in 2013, winning twice while looking like a solid if unspectacular racehorse. But those were dirt races, and when, in her second start this year, Disco Barbie tried a synthetic surface, she started looking spectacular.
Disco Barbie won a May 13 optional-claiming race at Presque Isle Downs by 8 1/4 lengths, and, when going up a notch in class there June 9, she won by seven lengths despite being geared down late.
“She had a lot of trouble in her first race back at Pimlico,” said Dale Capuano, who took over Disco Barbie’s training this winter. “We knew this filly was pretty nice, so when she won, it didn’t surprise me. The way she won surprised me.”
If Disco Barbie’s form on Presque Isle’s Tapeta Footings surface transfers to Arlington’s Polytrack, she can win the Grade 3, $150,000 Chicago Handicap here Saturday. Disco Barbie, who arrived at Arlington from Pennsylvania on Wednesday night, breaks outside nine rivals under Antonio Gallardo, and at anything close to her 4-1 morning-line odds, she’s a highly appealing play.
The seven furlongs of the Chicago Handicap should suit the filly, a daughter of Pure Prize, and her tactical versatility is a plus in a race that lacks serious pace elements and could get crowded on the far turn.
“She can go either way – on the lead or off,” said Capuano, who makes his Arlington debut.
Disco Barbie’s May 13 race, in which she contested the pace along the rail, produced a 98 Beyer Speed Figure, but her June 9 win, despite its 91 Beyer, was better. Trapped behind a wall of horses into the homestretch, Disco Barbie quickly caught the leaders without being asked and dominated with Gallardo sitting still.
Her rivals Saturday include Cozze Up Lady, who rallied belatedly to win the 2013 Chicago Handicap. Cozze Up Lady got a long break following that victory, but after an eye-catching comeback win March 4 at Fair Grounds, she finished a disappointing sixth in the Grade 1 Madison, a seven-furlong race on Polytrack at Keeneland.
“She didn’t run near as well as I expected,” trainer Bret Calhoun said, “but she’s coming into this race good.”
Cozze Up Lady finished fourth last out in the Winning Colors at Churchill, but that six-furlong dirt race was mainly a bridge to Saturday’s start, according to Calhoun.
Two other Chicago entrants, 120-pound highweight Apropos and Eden Prairie, raced in the Madison, finishing third and fifth, both with less-than-ideal trips.
“The jock spent the whole time just trying to get off the fence,” said trainer Al Stall, who sent Apropos to Arlington early this week to take advantage of cooler weather.
Eden Prairie led early in the Madison but is better suited to pressing trips, and trainer Neil Pessin hopes Flower Spell goes to the lead Saturday. Eden Prairie, 1 for 1 on Arlington Polytrack, has been pointed to this spot since April.
My Option is better than her most recent performance at Woodbine suggests. She raced close to the lead that day, and trainer Chris Block hopes for a rallying trip Saturday.