Lassie, Futurity winners headed in different directions

Into Trouble, winner of the $75,000 Arlington-Washington Lassie on Saturday, and Big Drink of Water, who captured the $75,000 Arlington-Washington Futurity on the same card, are much different types of horses, and plans for their respective fall campaigns reflect that.

Big Drink of Water, who won earlier this year at 4 1/2 and 5 1/2 furlongs, will stick to sprint races on synthetic surfaces for the time being and is being pointed to the $100,000 Fitz Dixon Jr. Memorial Stakes, a six-furlong race Oct. 4 at Presque Isle Downs. Big Drink of Water, purchased privately by Vince Foglia’s Patricia’s Hope LLC after winning the Victoria Stakes at Woodbine, managed to stay seven furlongs on Saturday but earned only a 65 Beyer Speed Figure in the Futurity.

“He came out of the race good and goes back to the track tomorrow,” trainer Larry Rivelli said Wednesday.

Into Trouble also exited her Arlington race in good order, trainer Ben Colebrook said Wednesday, and already has resumed training. Colebrook confirmed that Into Trouble, who won her debut going seven furlongs on dirt at Ellis Park, would make her two-turn debut next month in the Grade 1 Alcibiades Stakes at Keeneland.

Into Trouble got only a 68 Beyer for her Lassie win, but there are reasons to think that number doesn’t necessarily hard-cap her potential. Into Trouble, a large-framed filly with a very chill personality, missed the break in the Lassie and was the only horse on the entire Saturday card to make a successful sustained run in a one-turn race over Arlington’s speed-favoring Polytrack. Jockey Chris Emigh said he never really asked his mount for her best, and that she felt like a horse who would appreciate more distance and another turn.

Good Bye Greg thriving on racing

Good Bye Greg is a 7-year-old with a host of physical issues. Why waste whatever miles he has left training? That was how his connections approached his schedule this month.

Good Bye Greg won Sept. 2 at Arlington for a $50,000 claiming price, getting home by a head at a 6 1/2-furlong distance longer than ideal. The same day, trainer Larry Rivelli entered Good Bye Greg in another Arlington race scheduled for Sept. 7. Good Bye Greg went to the track one day between starts. Then, in again for $50,000, he went out and scored a seven-length blowout. Good Bye Greg got a 100 Beyer, the first triple-digit figure of his career.

“It’s not like something is about to fall off, but everybody around here knows he has his problems,” said Rivelli. “He’s one of those horses you can’t claim him, and you can’t beat him. He’s just an old warrior.”

◗ Beyond Blame probably is headed to the Valley View Stakes at Keeneland for her next start, trainer Brad Cox said. Beyond Blame won the $200,000 Indiana Grand Stakes on Sept. 5. This past spring she captured the Grade 3 Regret at Churchill