Key to Power, Notte d’Oro Win on Closing Day at Arlington

Premier Stables Unlimited’s Key to Power lived up to his stellar pedigree on Saturday afternoon when the son of Grade I winners A. P. Indy and Exotic Wood won the $50,000 Teleprompter Stakes by three-quarters of a length at Arlington International Racecourse. Rating in mid-pack, the bay 6-year-old horse commenced a three-wide rally at the top of the stretch to overpower Flashlight and Aztec Brave in the final sixteenth.

 

Ridden by Chris Emigh, the Kentucky-bred traveled the one-mile distance in 1:36.21 over firm ground on Arlington's world-renowned turf course after earlier fractions of 24.94, 47.82, 1:10.81 and 1:23.98. Sent off at 5.50-1, Key to Power returned $13, $5.20 and $3 as the public's fourth wagering choice, earning $29,700 to boost his career bankroll to $329,158. The Teleprompter was his second consecutive stakes victory after winning the $50,000 Cliff Guilliams Handicap at Ellis Park earlier in September.

 

“It looked like they were going along at a pretty good clip,” Emigh said. “My horse was comfortable and I was a little worried I wouldn’t catch them because they kept going – but he kept digging in and got them at the end.”

 

“We came up and we thought we could be competitive in this race,” Dorie Smith, assistant to trainer Brendan Walsh, said. “We thought we could improve him (off his February claim) and bring him up to where he is now.”

Michael Hui’s Flashlight finished a sharp second under Mitchell Murrill for trainer Mike Maker, returning $5 and $3.40. Brad Grady’s Aztec Brave, ridden by Rosemary Homeister, Jr., for Joe Sharp, set a quick pace before tiring to third – a neck behind Flashlight – returning $2.80 to show as the 1.10-1 favorite. 

The order of finish for the Teleprompter was completed by Peej, Yankee Dealer and Crewman. Midnight Cello, Pablo Del Monte, Spark Kit,Stormy Pacific and Super Soldier were scratched.

One race prior, in the sister race to the Teleprompter, the $50,000 Melanie Frances Stakes over the same trip, Twin Creeks Racing Stables’ Notte d’Oro overpowered six foes for victory. After breaking well and sitting mid-pack in the perfect position, the daughter of Medaglia d’Oro split horses at the top of the stretch en route to a 2½-length score for trainer Mike Stidham.

 

Ridden by newly crowned champion Arlington jockey of 2015, Jose Valdivia, Jr., the Kentucky-bred homebred half-sister to multiple graded stakes winner Red Rifle traveled the mile distance in 1:36.59 after earlier fractions of 23.50, 48.48, 1:12.91 and 1:24.94. Sent off as the 7-5 favorite, Notte d’Oro returned $4.80, $2.60 and $2.40, earning $29,400 to boost her career bankroll to $183,793.

 

“When Mike gave me a leg up, he said that she was much to best and to ride her like it and get comfortable,” Valdivia said. “She gave me a winning stride every step of the way, it was just a matter of when I asked her.

 

“It’s been an unbelievable season and I want to thank all the owners and trainers because this is the sport of kings and they definitely showed it this meet,” Valdivia continued. “This is a great facility and I would like to thank my agent Steve Leving and the connections who have helped me like Mike Stidham, Larry Rivelli and Vince Foglia from the bottom of my heart.”

“She got beat in a couple of tough ones at Canterbury (Park) and we took her out to California and she really ran well against tough company,” Stidham added. “Today she really showed she’s a nice filly.”

Team Block’s Be Playful finished a game second under Edgar Perez for trainer Chris Block, returning $3.40 and $3. Savoy Stable’s Distorted Type, ridden by Mitchell Murrill for Dale Bennett, closed from the rear of the field to be third – 1¾ lengths astern Be Playful, returning $4.80 to show.

 

The Melanie Frances order of finish was completed by Pirate’s Trove, Eden Prairie, Puntsville and Fingers Crossed. Innovative Idea was scratched.

Trainer Larry Rivelli, jockey Jose Valdivia, Jr. and Vince Foglia’s Patricia’s Hope LLC claimed meet titles at the conclusion of Arlington International Racecourse’s 77-day live meet on Saturday.

 

Leading the trainer standings from the outset, Rivelli captured his third leading trainer title at Arlington with a total of 72 wins, surpassing his personal best set in 2014 when he tallied 59 wins as leading trainer. Rivelli was also leading trainer at Arlington in 2011.  Rivelli’s win count makes him only the second trainer in Arlington history to win 70 races at an Arlington meet, a feat accomplished three times by Wayne Catalano.

During the meet, Rivelli struck with an impressive 30% of his starters and was in the money 62% of the time. Runner-up Scott Becker also had a stellar meet, winning at 29%, while in the money 58% of the time.

Breeders’ Cup and Belmont Stakes winner Jose Valdivia, Jr. rode full time at Arlington for the first time this summer and was among the leading riders from the start of the meet. After taking the lead from Mitchell Murrill midway through the season, Valdivia steadily increased his margin to capture the title over Murrill by a tally of 80-72.