Inconclusive looks to make statement in Lassie
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLEARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – On Aug. 1, 2013, She’s Offlee Good made her career debut for trainer Richie Scherer in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden race over the Arlington Polytrack. She rallied from off the pace and won going away. She returned five weeks later and won the Arlington-Washington Lassie by two lengths, her Beyer Speed Figure jumping from 61 to 75.
On July 24, 2015, Inconclusive made her career debut for Scherer in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden race over the Arlington Polytrack. She rallied from off the pace and won going away for a good-looking victory that produced a 71 Beyer. Now, five weeks later, she returns in the $75,000 Arlington-Washington Lassie and appears to have every chance to give Scherer his second win in the race.
The Lassie, shortened from one mile to seven furlongs last year, attracted a field of 10 2-year-old fillies. None of them has more than one career win, three are maidens, and it will be surprising if Inconclusive goes off at odds nearly as high as her 4-1 morning line. The 7-2 morning-line favorite is Avisionofchocolate, a debut winner at Parx Racing and most recently second in the $125,000 My Dear Girl at Woodbine.
The Lassie, race 7 on an eight-race card, has a scheduled post time of 4:21 p.m. Central. The local forecast calls for a 60 percent chance of showers and a comfortable high temperature of 75 degrees.
Key contenders
Inconclusive (Last Beyer: 71)
* If Inconclusive makes a second-start Beyer leap similar to She’s Offlee Good’s two years ago, it’s hard to see her losing, and there is reason to believe she can do better, though her debut trip – a clean run near the rail – was favorable. Scherer said the filly has good size and good balance but not a lot of early speed, and he feared the distance first out would be too short. Seven furlongs should prove a more suitable trip for the daughter of Include.
* Galloped out strongly in her debut and looked fluid going over the synthetic surface here. Scherer said she has a mind to match her physical ability.
“I think she’s pretty smart, too,” he said. “She seems less explosive than She’s Offlee Good. Sometimes little things could set her off. This filly is more laid-back.”
Venus Valentine (Last Beyer: 49)
* The raw six-furlong time (1:11.10) of her debut win July 26 at Ellis Park looks okay, but the Ellis Park racing surface was lightning-fast when she raced.
* Raced professionally, making a quick early inside move to reach contention and a decisive second move to take control of the race.
Avisionofchocolate (Last 2 Beyers: 57-62)
* The only stakes-placed filly in this group but was part of a short field at Woodbine in a race won by a 17-1 first-time starter, and no one coming out of the My Dear Girl has yet proved her worth.
* Speedy Arkansas-bred makes first start since being privately purchased and turned over to trainer Jinks Fires.