Pucker Up another successful visit for Aud

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Neither Aud nor the rider Brian Peck has done much racing at Arlington Park this summer. They have made the most of their infrequent visits.

Coming between horses with a strong run at the top of the stretch, Aud won the Grade 3, $175,000 Pucker Up Stakes by 1 3/4 lengths, giving her two wins in two starts here this summer. The Kentucky-based Peck has ridden at Arlington just three times, scoring his only two wins with Aud, whom he gave a perfect ride Saturday. Racing in the middle of a 12-horse field on the far turn, Aud and Peck moved up along the inside, came out three wide turning for home, and charged between horses with a strong late run.

"The idea was to make one last run, and that's the way it worked out," said Peck.

Owned and bred Peter Wilmott and trained by Tony Reinstedler, Aud paid $32 to win and triggered huge exotic payoffs. The exacta, with the 41-1 shot Hail Hillary, was $787.20, and the trifecta, with the 54-1 shot Julie's Prize, paid $31,266.80.

With much local fanfare, Gary Stevens returned to Arlington for the first time since his spectacular spill with Storming Home in the Arlington Million. Riding Hoh Buzzard, favored at 7-5, Stevens found himself boxed in along the inside for much of the race and finished fourth.

That was better than the other two favorites, as the second choice Sarie Marais dwelt in the starting gate, finishing last, and third choice Sue's Good News was a dull seventh.

Cat's Cat was sent to the lead and went a quarter mile in 23.99 seconds, a half in 48.64, but was passed in the stretch by Hail Hillary. She ran on well late, but was no match for Aud, who got the one and an eighth miles on a yielding course in 1:49.16.

* Six scratches gutted the Smart Deb, a $47,850 overnight stakes for 3-year-old fillies, but the race turned into a good one anyway. Finally Here dug in gamely after pressing a fast pace and held off Fabulous Brush by a neck, paying $5.20 as the favorite.