Good Bye Greg, Puntsville go all the way in Arlington stakes

In a race won at the break, Patricia’s Hope LLC’s Good Bye Greg took the lead at the start of the $66,000 Jeff Lynn Memorial Stakes and ran away to best four others with a 6½-length victory.

The Larry Rivelli-trained 6-year-old son of Teuflesberg went straight to the rail under Santo Sanjur while William Stiritz’s Goneghost tried to press alongside for trainer Scott Becker. Chris Emigh urged his mount to stay close to the short-priced wagering favorite through opening fractions of 22.10 and 44.84. Entering the stretch in 56.93, Good Bye Greg had shook off all challengers and pulled away from the field to win in a final time of 1:09.82 for the six-furlongs on the main track.

 

“He has really good talent on the Polytrack,” said Sanjur. “He handled it really good, he took the lead really easy and went wire to wire. The other horse didn’t bother him, he’s a class horse.”

 

After chasing the winner early, Goneghost had to settle for third 2½ lengths behind John E. Sircher’s Reigning Catfish. The Jere Smith, Jr. trainee settled last of five early before closing sharply under Mitchell Murrill in the final quarter to grab second. Stiritz’s Becker-trained St. Louie Guy ran well off the pace under Victor Santiago but never rallied into the mix. After chasing the front runners early, Dundalk 5 LLC, et al’s Dee Poulos-trained Gorgeous George finished at the back of the pack with Jose Lopez. Armando’s Star, Mongol Bull, Richiesinthehouse, and Shogood were scratched.

 

Good Bye Greg returned $3, $2.40 and $2.10. Reigning Catfish paid $4.80 and $2.40, while Goneghost returned $2.10. With the winner’s purse of $39,960 Good Bye Greg increased his career earnings to $218,326 with eight wins in 13 lifetime starts.

 

Two races later, a similar scene occurred when S D Brilie’s Puntsville broke like a shot from the gate in the $66,200 Richard Scherer Memorial Stakes under jockey Victor Santiago and never looked back. Facing five other fillies and mares, the Michele Boyce-trained 5-year-old daughter of Cashel Castle set solid fractions of 22.50, 45.46 and 57.36, taking a four-length lead at the top of the stretch before easing home in a final time of 1:10.32 for six furlongs on the main track. Hugh Robertson and Barry Butzow’s Robertson-trained Thoughtless sat three lengths off the pacesetter early before moving inside of horses and rallying under Mitchell Murrill to grab second, 2½ lengths behind the winner.

 

“She’s just gotten better,” said Santiago. “Today she just stood [in the gate] like a quiet horse then, boom, went out really quicker than the last. She’s pretty fast. Since I rode her the first time I said, God put me on her with a purpose. We clicked. Every time I ride her we click more and more.”

 

After sitting last early, Empyrean Stables and Two Princesses Stables’ Diadura close strongly under Carlos Marquez, Jr. for trainer Mike Stidham to get third a half-length behind Thoughtless. Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Delicate Lady lacked room turning for home with Santo Sanjur aboard and could only muster fourth for trainer Jonathan Thomas. Antonio Meraz’s Manny Perez-trained Black Angel never fired under Olaf Hernandez, and after chasing the winner early Shackin Up and jockey Chris Emigh faded to last for owner and trainer Mike Stidham. Darlin Rosie and Luvin Bullies were scratched.

 

Puntsville returned $3.20, $2.40 and $2.20. Thoughtless paid $3.80 and $3, while Diadura returned $3. With the winner’s purse of $39,322 Puntsville raised her lifetime earnings to $311,051 with 10 wins in 20 career starts.