Streamline preparing for fall return

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - The Illinois-bred 4-year-old filly Streamline, unraced since finishing second in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom on April 15, is back on the work tab and readying for a fall campaign that will lead to what trainer Brian Williamson hopes is another successful meet at Oaklawn Park this winter.

Streamline won four of her first seven starts and looked like a solid racehorse on turf and Polytrack, but her form leapt forward when she was switched to dirt racing last fall. Streamline won the $100,000 Pippin Stakes at Oaklawn as a 15-1 shot in her second dirt start before finishing second in the Grade 3 Bayakoa, third in the Grade 2 Azeri, and second to Forever Unbridled in the Apple Blossom.

A relatively minor injury sent her to a Kentucky farm shortly thereafter, but Streamline returned to Williamson’s string at Arlington in mid-July and on Wednesday worked a half-mile in 49 seconds.

“She looks really good and is training well, and we’re looking forward to the fall and then Oaklawn again,” Williamson said. “She’ll probably be ready for Churchill at the November meet. Hopefully, I can get a couple races in her before [Oaklawn] and then go from there.”

Williamson also trains the 2-year-old Romeo O Romeo, who won his debut Aug. 21 over Arlington’s main track and is being aimed for the Arlington-Washington Futurity next Saturday.

“I worked him Tuesday, he galloped today, and he was full of himself, so he’s good to go for that race,” Williamson said Thursday.

Graded options for Zipessa

Zipessa, who finished a brave third after getting caught up in a hot pace in the Grade 1 Beverly D. Stakes here, remains in steady training but still has no definite target race, trainer Mike Stidham said.

Zipessa, who won the Grade 3 Dr. James Penny Memorial Stakes at Parx Racing in her start before the Beverly D., is being considered for three stakes races: the Grade 2, $300,000 Canadian Stakes over 1 1/8 miles on turf Sept. 17 at Woodbine; the Grade 1, $300,000 Rodeo Drive over 1 1/4 miles on turf Oct. 1 at Santa Anita; and the Grade 1, $400,000 First Lady Stakes over one mile on turf Oct. 8 at Keeneland.

◗ Jockey Chris Emigh, who suffered a concussion, a broken thumb, and a broken toe in a scary spill July 9 at Arlington, was set to make his return to race-riding this week at Arlington.