Betting favorite Ezmosh lives up to top billing in Arlington Classic

A feeling of déjà vu took over the Arlington International Racecourse winner’s circle on Saturday when the 83rd running of the Grade III $100,000 Arlington Classic was captured by trainer Brad Cox for the second year in a row. The 1 1/16 miles turf event for 3-year-olds went to Madaket Stables, Ten Strike Racing and Zayat Stables’ Ezmosh, who was sent to post as the 3-2 betting choice under leading rider Jose Valdivia, Jr.

After breaking sharply from the gate, Valdivia settled the son of Tizway just behind the pacesetters, which included Secure Investments and I. C. Racing’s Cuestion de Tiempo, one of trainer Ignacio Correas IV’s two starters in the race. Jockey Harry Hernandez set fractions of 24.43, 48.46 and 1:13.70 upon Cuestion de Tiempo but was overtaken by Ezmosh as they passed the 1/16 pole in 1:39.08. Correas’ other trainee, Wimborne Farm’s Pont Du Gard settled early toward the back of the pack and closed steadily under Jose Lopez to put his neck in front of his stablemate at the wire, but the pair were still 2½-lengths short of the eventual winner. The final time for the race was 1:45.52 over a yielding grass course.

“I’m very thankful for the opportunity Brad Cox gave me to ride a graded race,” said Valdivia after the race. “He just left it up to me, just said [doesn’t matter] wherever he is as long as he’s comfortable. We spoke about it with Ricky [Giannini, assistant trainer] and whether he was on the lead, second, third – as long as he was comfortable he shut it off, and when I called on him he was there for me.”

“I had a beautiful trip, I did just what the trainer told me,” said Lopez. “Got a good break, let the other horse go to the lead and just sit off of them and make one move. He responded very nice.”

“He relaxed really well for me,” said Hernandez about the pacesetter. “I just waited as much as I could. I rode into the quarter pole and when I [asked] he started running, but I guess [Ezmosh] had a little bit more. [My horse] ran a really great race. Ignacio has done a really great job with this horse.”

Ezmosh was bred in Oklahoma by Scott and Lanae Pierce. The colt won for the third time in his nine career starts, earning $58,200 to bring his total career winnings to $154,480. He returned $3, $2.60, and $2.20. Pont Du Gard paid $5.40 and $3.80, and Cuestion de Tiempo returned $6.40.

Alternative Route, Kitten a Gettin, Wildscore, The Money Dance, and Papa Rizzo completed the order of finish.