Pataky Kid and Gold Edge – Stars of the Future!
(Pataky Kid! Drawing by Mel of Daily Racing Funnies!)
The first of the two races featured the boys (and one filly) taking to the one-turn mile on the all-weather surface. It was a perfect day (weather-wise) in Chicago and the racing did not disappoint. Garrett Gomez comes to Chicago for Tom Proctor and wins the Arlington-Washington Futurity on board Pataky Kid. Gomez had “the kid” just behind the first flight of leaders, saving ground near the rail. Around the turn and into the stretch, he split between horses at the top of the lane and was only a half-length behind post time and morning line favorite Muppet Man. Then down the stretch be passed by Muppet Man at the 1/8 pole and never looked back, scoring victory by 3 lengths as the 5/2 second choice. Gomez commented after the race, “He traveled well the whole way. He was ready for me to tell him when to go throughout the whole race. It was just a matter of finding a little seam turning for home. He did so willingly. He made the lead and I got into him a couple of times. The second time I got into him he didn’t like it too much and he let me know. He ducked out a little bit but I got him straightened out and he continued on his way.”
(Pataky Kid - photo courtesy of Four Footed Fotos)
(Gold Edge by Mel Leonard!)
The second of the two races turned to the girls where 10/1-priced Gold Edge and local favorite jockey Chris Emigh had to run down 36/1 shot La Song to win the Arlington-Washington Lassie by a neck! Emigh said of his ride on Gold Edge, “I wasn’t sure we were going to get there until the last couple of jumps. She’s been training so good. I knew she might get beat but they were really going to have to run to beat her. She’s been training awesome and she tries her heart out.” Gold Edge actually was in the lead ¼ mile into the race. Emigh settled her back to track behind La Song. Gold Edge was brought outside of the leader starting down the stretch and needed every bit of the stretch to just beat the pace-setter.
(Gold Edge and Chris Emigh - photo courtesy of Four Footed Fotos)
It was a great finish to a race that had endless possibilities of wagering opportunities. Interestingly, Larry Jones’ Dancinginthecircle just missed second by a nose, though I swear on the replay it looked like she had it. Wayne Catalano’s Flying Rapunzel went off as the 3/1 favorite but just didn’t fire today. I just thought it would have been a tough race to win from the 11 post. The win bet on Gold Edge was enough for dinner for my lovely wife and me though! Seems like others made out well too as the exacta paid $777, the trifecta paid $2,097, and the superfecta paid $5,335! WOW! You gotta love those overflow fields! Finally in a very scary moment, You Bought Her fell to the ground after clipping heels with American Sugar. You Bought Her left the race track under her own power and appeared to be fine. Jockey Julio Felix was taken to a local hospital for X-rays. I hope he is OK!
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Finally, last year our great sport of horse racing lost a good friend and a great fan. Courtesy of the production talents of Horseplayer Now and talents of Joe Kristufek and Dave Zenner, this amazing video was created as part of the first annual Arlington race dedicated to Tim "Tiznow" Reynolds: a man who left us way too soon. RIP my friend.