For Rubies runs past Raging Fever

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Raging Fever and For Rubies looked each other in the eye at the quarter pole Saturday at Arlington. The stretch run of the Chicago Breeders' Cup was upon them, and Raging Fever, a three-time Grade 1 winner, had the early edge on For Rubies, who sought her first win in a graded stakes race.

Turned out, it was no contest. For Rubies put away Raging Fever at the eighth pole and rolled on to a three-length win in the Grade 3 Chicago BC.

Raging Fever ran on well to easily hold second, four lengths ahead of stretch-runner Oglala Sue, but she was no match for a sharp filly who received an ideal pace-pressing trip.

"I was keeping [Raging Fever] honest on the lead, but I didn't have to do anything to do it," said For Rubies' rider, Craig Perret, who won his third Chicago BC. "I got to the eighth pole and I hadn't asked her to run yet."

When Raging Fever's connections decided to ship in from New York for the Chicago BC, it deepened the race considerably. See How She Runs, who might have been the second choice, stayed at her base at Prairie Meadows to run there in an easier spot after being entered in this race Wednesday.

And though Raging Fever had run a distant fourth in her most recent race, her rider Aaron Gryder felt confident Saturday. "When they're that consistent and that good, you don't worry going into a race," Gryder said.

There was other speed here, but Raging Fever broke well from post 1 and took the early lead, going a quarter mile in 22.62 seconds and a half in 45.27. But For Rubies was on her flank halfway through the far turn, and with nobody running at her after she seized the lead, For Rubies was home.

Ineligible for the Breeders' Cup portion of the purse, For Rubies earned $69,450 of a $145,750 total purse. Trained by Lynn Whiting, she ran seven furlongs in 1:24.21 while paying $16.40 to win. After Oglala Sue came Summer Miss, Miss Lodi, Ifyouprefersilver, Cielo Girl, and Abundantly Blessed.