Tom Archdeacon scores upset in Awad

The betting public figured the Todd Pletcher-trained Bullara couldn't miss in Monday's Awad Stakes for 3-year-old grass horses at Arlington Park, but this time the public was way off.

Bullara got just the kind of wide trip one should have expected after breaking from the outside post in the one-mile Awad, and after a seven-wide run around the first turn, even-money Bullara - the only horse taking much money in the 11-horse Awad - had nothing left in the stretch drive.

Things went much differently for Tom Archdeacon, who was given a flawless, ground-saving ride by Larry Sterling. Sterling moved Tom Archdeacon into position approaching the far turn, found room on the rail just past the quarter pole, and Tom Archdeacon went on about his business from there, holding clear a late inside run from Pirate Saint to score by three-quarters of a length in the $48,450 Awad, a prep for Arlington's Mid-America Triple. Trained by Austin Smith, Tom Archdeacon paid $19.80 to win and was timed in 1:37.52 for one mile over yielding turf.

Pirate Saint, a 15-1 shot, was a length better than 19-1 Lovango, with 37-1 Chief Thief a little farther back in fourth, with the $2 superfecta returning $34,894.80. Bullara wound up eighth.