Rivelli's first-time starters running bigly

Trainer Larry Rivelli has the most horses at Arlington and many of the best horses at Arlington. He tends to dominate maiden racing at the meet, but his recent run of success with first-time-starting maidens has gotten ridiculous.

For the 2019 Arlington meet, Rivelli’s debut runners have gone 12-6-2-3, and five of his last seven have won. Last week, Rivelli won maiden special weight races Friday, Saturday, and Sunday with debut runners Hurricane Highway, Vincent William, and Angelcents. Hurricane Highway, a 3-year-old, won by nine lengths and got an 85 Beyer Speed Figure, while Vincent William, a gelding by Iqbaal, got an 83 Beyer, a big number for a 2-year-old in June, and Angelcents, a filly by Goldencents, got a 72.

Vincent William and Angelcents are likely headed to Woodbine, the former for the $100,000 Victoria on July 7, the latter for the $100,000 My Dear on July 6. Rivelli said he has a couple more unraced 2-year-old fillies who might be as good as Angelcents, and mentioned Release the Heat, by Uncaptured, as especially promising.

Rivelli also put the 3-year-old New York-bred Dugout through his first workout since last fall on June 20, when he went three furlongs at Arlington. Dugout, a two-time stakes winner last year, should be ready for Saratoga, where Rivelli will have eight to 10 stalls, he said.