Turf sprint suits Amazing Results

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Ioya Two, the dam of the 3-year-old colt Amazing Results, was a two-turn turf horse when she raced, and the connections of Amazing Results - trainer Chris Block and the family ownership group, Team Block - had every reason to believe Amazing Results himself would turn out to be a two-turn turf horse.

Amazing Results debuted in a one-mile grass race last summer, made his first four starts around two turns on turf, and even won a turf-route stakes race in New Orleans.

But the truth is, Amazing Results may not really be best as a two-turn turf horse. His two most recent races arguably were the best in a nine-start career, and both of those - wins in the Springfield Stakes and the Forward Pass Stakes - came around one turn on Polytrack.

On Saturday, in the inaugural running of the Lake Michigan at Arlington Park, Amazing Results returns to turf but remains at one turn, and looks like the horse to beat in the 5 1/2-furlong grass race.

Amazing Results is 1 for 1 at the distance, having captured the Black Gold Stakes at Fair Grounds this past winter.

Amazing Results was one of just six entered in the Lake Michigan, which falls into a somewhat rare division - 3-year-old turf sprinters - and received at best a lukewarm reception from horsemen. Block, however, has been pointing Amazing Results to the race since the horse came out of his win in the Aug. 9 Forward Pass in good condition.

"I think I've given him enough time in between starts," Block said. "He ran his eyeballs out that day. We gave him plenty of chance to get his feet back on the ground."

Block pointed out Amazing Results's previous turf-sprint win at Fair Grounds came on a course with a longer stretch run.

"It's probably not the ideal distance for him, but he's versatile enough that if the pace is solid, he can get it together and get there," said Block.

Trainer Todd Pletcher has shipped Chitoz in for the race, and he could prove Amazing Results's main competition. Chitoz won the Anderson Fowler at this distance over the Monmouth lawn in June, and was third in the Gilded Time there on Sept. 1.

Grand Sensation also has a chance, as does The Darp, who showed some class earlier this year, and makes his turf debut in the Lake Michigan, which goes off as race 4 on Saturday's 12-race card.

A Block party?

Block has other action going Saturday at Arlington. Amazing Results's 2-year-old sister, Sand N Be Counted, makes her career debut in race 8, and in race 10, the $50,000 John Henry, Block sends out General Charley, who figures to be favored in the 1 1/16-mile grass race.

General Charley has won two starts in a row, and though his victory on July 31 came by more than seven lengths and his win Aug. 16 was by just 1 1/2 lengths, the recent score was more impressive.

Facing a field comparable to the one he meets Saturday, General Charley was reserved off a slow pace and took command with a quick move into the stretch.

"I was glad to see the way he ran last time," Block said. "He was a little anxious the first part of it, but then he settled into a good stride."

Dynaman has won three straight allowance races and is a horse on the rise, but his best form probably comes at distances longer than Saturday's 1 1/16 miles.