Helicopter experiments on turf

He has gotten it done on dirt, and he has gotten it done on synthetic tracks at Arlington, Woodbine, and Keeneland. The win machine named Helicopter is 4 for 4 so far in 2010 after winning 9 races from 17 starts in 2009. Trainer Larry Rivelli has wanted to see if Helicopter's knack for finding the wire will carry over into turf racing, and barring a rain-off onto the main track, Rivelli will get that chance on Friday, with Helicopter one of 12 horses entered in a $5,000 starter allowance at Arlington. The race is carded for 1 1/8 miles on turf, and Alarming Afleet will run only with a switch to Polytrack.

Helicopter has won 13 of his last 21 starts after beginning his career 0 for 14, and the one-time struggling conditioned claimer just knocked out his second allowance condition with a narrow victory here May 28. Helicopter is by Three Wonders, a son of Storm Cat, and out of a mare by Septieme Ciel, a pedigree suggesting grass racing will fall within his repertoire.