Mongol Bull in fine form for turf sprint

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Owen Rainwater, now deceased, was an Illinois farmer of corn, soybeans, and wheat. He bred, owned, and trained horses, too, and found more success in Chicago than his tiny operation had a right to.

Rainwater dabbled in claimers and had a knack for picking out horses who at least could win for the price he’d paid. “Usually, when I claim a horse, I have something in mind,” Rainwater said in 2008.

The Rainwater banner in the late 2000s passed to Owen’s son, Bradlee. Like father, like son. Brad Rainwater also has done well with limited stock, making some prescient claims along the way. One of his best, Mongol Bull, starts in the featured sixth race Thursday at Arlington.

Last November, Brad Rainwater plucked Mongol Bull from a $20,000 non-winners-of-two claimer. In five starts since, all at higher class levels, Mongol Bull has three wins and a second and earnings of almost $60,000. He won an allowance race on dirt early in the Hawthorne meet and has been even better sprinting on turf at Arlington, capturing a second-level allowance open to $40,000 claimers in his most recent start June 28.

Rainwater, managing astutely, won the race last time under the allowance condition, and on Thursday, he has Mongol Bull back at the same class level, this time for the $40,000 claiming option. That’s still double what Rainwater paid for the horse eight months ago. The elder Rainwater would be proud.

The feature, at about five furlongs on turf, drew a competitive field of seven.

KEY CONTENDERS

Mongol Bull (Last three Beyers: 84-79-81)

◗ The 3-1 second choice behind 5-2 Take Heart, but if the names of the trainers – Wayne Catalano and Bradlee Rainwater – were reversed, Mongol Bull would be a shorter price.

◗ Just won a race at this class level and distance on turf.

◗ He’s tactically versatile: His win two starts ago came on the lead, but last out he rallied from off the pace.

◗ Mongol Bull had a fairly sharp half-mile Polytrack work between starts, which suggests he has retained his edge.

Take Heart (Last three Beyers: 81-79-77)

◗ Shuffled back far behind the pacesetters and forced wide but still rallied for a close third in a race at this class level and turf distance in his most recent start.

◗ Hails from a hot barn: Catalano won with three of five starters last weekend at Arlington.

◗ Has a knack for finishing third: 11 third-place finishes compared with four wins in his 30-start career.

Todge (Last three Beyers: 86-73-79)

◗ His last-out win came in his turf-sprint debut, so even though he steps up in class, he might still have upside in this kind of race.

First win for Thornton

Maria Thornton, the 25-year-old sister of veteran jockey Tim Thornton, won the first race of her career when she guided Stephensclassygal to victory in the second race Sunday at Arlington. Thornton began accepting mounts July 24.