On Thursday, Desani's Chance is the star, not a sideshow

Don’t discount the 11-year-old in featured race 7 on Thursday at Arlington.

Desani’s Chance came across more as circus sideshow than real racehorse when owner Nancy Susmarski and trainer Patti Miller attempted to get him back to the races last summer at Arlington – following a 7-year-layoff. Skeptical stewards had to approve the unusual situation, but Desani’s Chance has turned out to be more than mere curiosity.

He won his third start following the extended (and extended, and extended) layoff, when he captured a $12,500 maiden claimer and has turned into a better horse than that. Switched to turf last summer, Desani’s Chance was a fast-closing fifth in an Illinois-bred allowance race before winning a conditioned claimer, and in his first start of this season, he rallied for third in an Illinois-bred turf sprint similar to the one in which he races Thursday. Miller ran Desani’s Chance for an $18,000 claiming option last time, but this five-furlong dash is a straight, Illinois-bred first-level allowance.

“I wasn’t worried about losing him last time,” Miller said. “Nancy was horrified.”

Desani’s Chance is listed at 10-1 on the morning line Thursday, and while he’ll probably be a shorter price than that, especially with leading rider Jose Valdivia back in the irons, he still might be playable. Valdivia, Miller said, is a real fan of the horse, and both jockey and trainer believe despite making up late ground last time, Desani’s Chance got tired late in his race. Valdivia told Miller that Desani’s Chance was too eager to run during the early stages and getting the comeback race out of the way should help settle him. Miller hopes the race isn’t rained onto Polytrack since her jockey has told her Desani’s Chance feels much better on turf.

“This horse thinks he’s 4 or 5 – he’s thrilled with life,” Miller said. “He’s small and looks kind of like a pony, but when he gets on the track, he thinks he’s Secretariat, that nobody can beat him.”