Midnight Cello Heads to Presque Isle Mile

After winning the Grade III $100,000 Hanshin Cup over Arlington International Racecourse’s Polytrack mile on July 18, Patricia’s Hope’s Midnight Cello heads to Presque Isle Downs to attempt to win his second consecutive all-weather mile stakes feature when he starts as one of the logical chances in Sunday’s $200,000 Presque Isle Mile for trainer Mike Tomlinson.

“He’s going in very well and eating every oat in the tub,” Tomlinson reported. “He’s moved forward and I think he likes to run fresh, but we’ll test that theory this weekend. He has had plenty of time between the Hanshin and Presque Isle. Obviously we wanted to try the synthetic again with him with the way he ran at Arlington. After this, he’ll likely head back to the dirt in a race like the Ack Ack at Churchill.”

In the Hanshin, the dark bay gelded son of Midnight Lute impressed many with a sharp acceleration after stalking the pace under rider Florent Geroux. The 5-year-old spurted clear in the final furlong to win by 5½ lengths – defeating 2014 Hanshin runner-up and multiple graded stakes winner Mister Marti Gras and 2013 Hanshin winner Hogy in the process. Hogy pulled off the Hanshin-Presque Isle Mile double in 2013.

The effort was his fourth since being claimed by Tomlinson for $100,000 at Gulfstream Park on Dec. 26. In that rained-off event, which was originally scheduled for the grass, the Kentucky-bred ran a smart second over the sloppy surface. In three subsequent starts before the Hanshin, he finished fifth, fourth and second in stakes company behind the likes of recent Grade I winner Noble Bird and Grade II winners Race Day and Valid.

“What I liked about him is that they kept running him in races where it would come off the grass and he would run a triple-digit Beyer number,” Tomlinson recollected. “I called (Patricia’s Hope principal) Vince (Foglia) about him and we figured we would give this horse a spin. You don’t get the opportunity to buy horses like him who can run 100-plus speed figures.

Midnight Cello has been established as the 9-2 morning-line third choice. Geroux returns to ride from post 10 of 12.

WORK TAB

Multiple stakes winner Bet Seattle worked an easy half-mile in :50.80 for owner-trainer Hugh Robertson on Thursday. He exits a perplexing no-show performance when seventh in stakes company at Mountaineer.

William Stiritiz’s Card continued his comeback with a smart half-mile in :48 flat for trainer Scott Becker. The five-time winner in nine starts was a dull sixth in a salty turf allowance on Aug. 20. Considered a synthetic specialist, it would be of no surprise to see him back racing in allowance conditions on Arlington’s main track in the final weeks.

Gritty debut 2-year-old winner Gotsomemojo, who helped get 2010 Secretariat Stakes winner Paddy O’Prado’s stud career off to a promising start when bullishly winning an Aug. 22 one-mile turf maiden, worked a half-mile in :49.60 on Thursday morning for trainer Mike Stidham and owner-breeder Phillip Maas.

Highly regarded sophomore filly Toutsie Rules, who is being aimed toward Keeneland for trainer Mike Stidham, worked a half-mile in :49.20 on Thursday morning. The daughter of Roman Ruler exits a disappointing fifth-place finish in allowance company. Owned by Hilary Pridham, Haynes Stables, Marette Farrell and Angela Ellis, the dark bay charge defeated Kentucky Oaks winner Lovely Mariathree starts back in allowance company.

S. D. Brilie’s Puntsville, who has shown an impressive rise through the allowance ranks this season for trainer Michele Boyce, worked five furlongs in 1:03.40 on Thursday morning. The daughter of Cashel Castle exits a sharp victory over stakes winner Royal Posh in an Aug. 20 second-level allowance.

Casner Racing’s promising Latte Da worked five furlongs in 1:02.40 for trainer Eoin Harty on Tuesday. The daughter of Tiznow is a full-sister to multiple Grade I winner Colonel John and broke her maiden going 6½ furlongs on June 21 before a last-place finish in her two-turn debut on July 25.

Cherrywood Racing Stables’ stakes-placed Super Soldier continues to work well, including a five-furlong move in 1:01.20 on Mondayfor trainer Michele Boyce. Third last out in the $50,000 Black Tie Affair Handicap, the full-brother to Katie the Lady was running for the first time in nearly seven months when losing said event by a half-length.

Speedway Stable’s Canadian champion and multiple graded stakes winner Leigh Court put the finishing touches on her preparation for this weekend’s Grade II $400,000 Presque Isle Masters Stakes at its namesake course with a half-mile move in :47.60 for trainer Mike Stidham.

Source: Arlington Park