Out of My Way by 3

CHICAGO - Out of My Way has won his share of stakes restricted to Illinois-bred horses, but Saturday at Arlington he ventured into deeper water and came out an easy winner. Controllable speed landed Out of My Way a perfect pressing trip, and he blew past Deer Lake at the top of the stretch to score a three-length victory over Bright Valour in the $100,000 Arlington Sprint.

With the victory, Out of My Way earned his place as Arlington's top sprinter this summer. A 6-year-old horse trained by Gene Cilio, Out of My Way had won three straight races at Arlington before suffering a nose defeat in an overnight handicap here July 27.

But that race was at a mile, and Out of My Way is far better at seven furlongs and less. The Arlington Sprint is at six furlongs, and Out of My Way had the outside post in a seven-horse field, perfect for his pressing style. His trip was ideal. Deer Lake and Rene Douglas went to the lead and ran a quarter-mile in 22.65 seconds, with Distinction pressing two wide and Out of My Way under a comfortable rating hold from Curt Bourque three paths off the rail.

Out of My Way was traveling easily, and on the far turn, as Deer Lake went a half in 45.50, Bourque gave him his head. Out of My Way pounced quickly, took the lead before the eighth pole, and ran on to a convincing victory. His final time was a good 1:09.82, and he paid $7.40 to win.

Bright Valour edged Deer Lake for second, while another couple of lengths back was Cashel Castle. Making his first start in 16 months, Cashel Castle put in a mild bid turning for home but lacked the needed stretch punch.