Snapphok romps on a tiring turf course

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Soft turf at Arlington: Snapphok likes that.

At 23-1, Snapphok was the longest shot among seven horses in the $53,900 Chester House Stakes on Saturday at Arlington, but he won fairly easily, slipping between horses after straightening for home and dashing clear to win by 1 3/4 lengths.

Snapphok scored a narrow allowance win over a soft Arlington course last summer, finishing fast behind a slow pace, just as he did Saturday.

"Obviously he does like it," said winning trainer Jim Gulick. "It worked out pretty well."

Inez Karlsson, off to a slow start this Arlington season after two good meets across town at Hawthorne, gave Snapphok a textbook ride. Karlsson saved ground throughout as Alone at Last pulled hard through slow fractions of 26.28 seconds for the first quarter-mile, and 52.25 to the half. Yankee Injunuity raced closest to the leader, and got first run going to the quarter pole, but his move quickly flamed out. And there came Karlsson and Snapphok, angling off the fence to get past Alone at Last, and comfortably holding clear favored Telling.

Telling was sixth of seven after three-quarters of a mile, and though he finished well, there was too much ground to make up in the stretch. Tiger Woodman, who made an outside move, finished third, and was followed by Major Rhythm, Minister's Joy, Yankee Injunuity, and Alone at Last. Artic Cry, who would have been among the favorites, was scratched.

Snapphok, owned and bred by Al Moorhouse, paid $48.80 to win. He was timed in 1:51.12 for nine furlongs on a very tiring course.