Voy Por Uno Mas wires in Radke
The $100,000 Richard Radke Illinois Owners Stakes was all but over after a quarter-mile. The speedy Voy Por Uno Mas had made a clear lead, cruising along through an opening fraction in 25.15 seconds. That slow pace was going to make the front-runner tough in the 1 1/16-mile race under any condition, and on Saturday, speed was king at Arlington. Voy Por Uno Mas became the seventh straight front-end winner on the card, scoring a two-length victory over Tony Terrific.
The Owners Stakes was moved to Polytrack from turf after heavy rain late in the week, rain that packed tight Arlington's synthetic surface. Trained by Moises Yanez for Del Sol Farm and Hernandez Racing, Voy Por Uno Mas had won 4 of 15 going into Saturday's race, but was 0 for 2 on Polytrack.
This time, he skipped comfortably over the surface with Junior Alvarado at the controls, stopping the timer in 1:42.86 for the 1 1/16 miles. Behind Tony Terrific was old hand Fort Prado, who ran decently in defeat. Fort Prado's stablemate Free Fighter actually was favored, but went evenly for fourth. Voy Por Uno Mas paid $31.80 to win.
Double Delta: Afleet Deceit best
Hooh Why won the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes last month on Keeneland Polytrack, but she could not win the $50,000 Double Delta Stakes over Arlington Polytrack. Hooh Why was outfooted to the front by Afleet Deceit, who won a brutal pace duel with Hooh Why, then held off late-running Peach Brew to win.
Afleet Deceit ($6.60) is a decent filly in her own right, with second-place finishes to Rachel Alexandra and Just Jenda in her recent starts at Oaklawn Park. But it was jockey Chris Emigh who made the difference in the Double Delta. Recognizing the speed bias, Emigh sent the normally reserved Afleet Deceit to the front, and worked to hold his inside position while Hooh Why pressed and even led for periods from the two path. Afleet Deceit gathered herself turning for home, and outran the heavy favorite. Winning time for the 1 1/16 miles was 1:42.65. Hooh Why faded late to finish third behind late-running Peach Brew.