Yo Carm scores upset in Bruce D. Memorial

Yo Carm pulled a meaningful upset for his connections Saturday when rallying to win the second running of the $75,000 Bruce D. Memorial, the first of six straight stakes on the Arlington Million card at Arlington Park in suburban Chicago.

Yo Carm ($24) was bred and is owned by Ed Fortino, who is the brother-in-law of the late Bruce Duchossois, for whom the race is named.

“This means an awful lot for Ed,” said winning trainer Chris Block. “He wasn’t able to be here for this one, but I’m sure he’s watching somewhere. It’s probably a little tearful for this one.”

Making his Polytrack debut after finishing a distant fifth behind Gun Runner in his latest start, the Grade 3 Matt Winn on dirt at Churchill Downs, Yo Carm saved ground throughout the one-turn mile under Jose Lezcano before overtaking the race-long leader, Runningfromthefeds, with about 40 yards to go to prevail by a half-length. The Illinois-bred son of Flatter finished in 1:36.47. Ten 3-year-olds started.

“I angled out, and he took off,” said Lezcano.

The $2 exacta (1-3) paid $189.40, the $1 trifecta (1-3-2) returned $323, and the 10-cent superfecta (1-3-2-7) was worth $201.11.

Bruce Duchossois, who died in July 2014, was the son of longtime Arlington chairman Richard L. Duchossois. Fortino is married to Dayle Duchossois.

This was the only Polytrack stakes of the day, with all the others following on turf.