Nobals notches first stakes win with Arlington-Washington Futurity
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Trainer Larry Rivelli won the $75,000 Arlington-Washington Futurity on Saturday – just not with the expected horse.
Rivelli scratched likely odds-on favorite One Timer because, Rivelli said, the gelding, a sharp 2 for 2 in his career, was off his feed Friday night. Rivelli also cited extremely hot weather as a reason for withdrawing One Timer and instead got a hot run from Nobals.
Owned and trained by Leland Hayes at the time, Nobals debuted July 14 at Presque Isle Downs, winning a maiden special weight by four lengths and bringing about a private purchase by Vince Foglia’s Patricia’s Hope LLC, who owns One Timer in partnership with Richard Ravin.
Pablo Morales had ridden Nobals, a gelding, in his lone start and came in to ride Saturday, settling Nobals in mid-pack as Suburban Court and Magician Stone dueled through a half-mile in 45.48 seconds, with Nobals commencing a sustained run midway around the far turn. Nobals commenced a run at the three-furlong pole, came to the lead pack at the quarter pole, dove inside a drifting Magician Stone after turning for home, and quickly strode clear. He beat 28-1 runner-up Magician Stone by about 4 1/2 lengths, was timed in 1:24.71 for seven furlongs over Polytrack and paid $10 to win.
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Baladi, favored at a surprisingly low 3-5 off a mere dirt maiden win at Ellis Park, never traveled like a winner and eked out a third-place finish.
Nobals is by Noble Mission out of Pearly Blue, by Empire Maker, and was purchased at an October yearling auction in 2020 for just $3,500. On Saturday, with his higher-regarded 2-year-old stablemate back in the barn, he became a stakes winner.
Chacalosa wins Lassie
Maiden turf sprint? Chacalosa finished a well-beaten fourth. Two-turn Polytrack maiden race? The filly was a well-beaten second. The $75,000 Arlington-Washington Lassie? Bingo!
Chacalosa, at 36-1 the longest shot in the field, rallied up the rail to clear the maiden ranks in the Lassie, the first stakes win for her jockey, Javier Tavares, and trainer, Earl Hughes, who also owns the filly.
Chacalosa, who paid $75.20 to win, was eighth down the backstretch but caught the eye at the three-furlong pole, cruising into contention. As Queen’s Up, who would wind up second, vacated the fence and swung wide for the stretch run, Tavares swooped to take her spot and mount an inside challenge. He and his mount nudged aside fading pacesetter Shez Reckless at the head of the stretch, reached the leading Michele Boyce-trained pair of Purr Sea and Plus Chic at the furlong grounds, and came to the wire about 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Queens Up.
“She was really fit, ready to go,” said Hughes, a Chicago-based trainer since 2017 who had only two previous stakes starters. “My guys did a great job getting her ready. It’s unbelievable; this is the greatest.”
Chacalosa, bred by Midwest Thoroughbreds, is a filly by Jess’s Dream out of Silver Prism, by Eurosilver. She was timed in 1:25.53 for the seven furlongs on Polytrack. Purr Sea edged Plus Chic for third, a couple lengths behind Queens Up.