Saint Leon Seeks Hat Trick in Arlington Sprint

The venerable Saint Leon will look to successfully defend his Listed $75,000 Arlington Sprint title a second time on July 5, according to his connections.  The Margaret Burlingham-owned son of Stravinsky has made two starts so far this season, finishing a front-running second to graded stakes winner Hogy in a May 11 allowance and then second again to stakes winner Bet Seattle in another allowance on June 1.

Trained by Michele Boyce, Saint Leon will make a return to the Arlington International Racecourse turf - the surface upon which he has won the last two editions of the Arlington Sprint - for the first time this season.  A winner of six of nine starts on the grass since joining the Boyce barn in 2009, the talented frontrunner will hope to get back to the winner’s circle for the first time since last year’s edition.

“It is certainly is looking like we’re going to run,” Boyce reported.  “He worked today - I had him in a minute and three-fifths for five furlongs - and I was very pleased with him.”  Regular rider E. T. Baird was aboard for the work.

The veteran conditioner is fairly certain that, despite four consecutive losses, Saint Leon has not lost a step.  “I think he’s the same horse.  It’s hard to tell because he’s had just one work since the last race, but he is still his old self.”

Possible to face the tall dark bay in this year’s edition is Hugh Robertson’s aforementioned Bet Seattle.  Though entered in a local allowance Sunday June 28, as well, the versatile son of Seattle Fitz could pose a major threat to Saint Leon while apparently in the form of his career.

Looch Racing’s Global Power would bring a class edge if entered.  The 6-year-old son of Pulpit recently set a torrid pace in the Grade III Jaipur Stakes on Belmont Day, eventually finishing third behind Undrafted and Marchman.  Trained by Tom Amoss, the seven-time winner was a respectable third in last year’s Arlington Sprint while in lesser form.

An intriguing nominee is Ike and Dawn Thrash’s Liz Pendens.  Previously a two-turn turf mare, the daughter of Macho Uno has recently taken to sprinting and done so with aplomb - winning a Keeneland allowance at the Arlington Sprint’s 5½-furlong distance and recently finishing a close fifth - beaten one length - in the $100,000 Intercontinental Stakes at Belmont Park on June 8.  Trained by Mike Stidham, the dark bay filly has always shown good speed, but with the reversion to sprinting has shown an excellent closing acceleration.  Liz Pendens worked four furlongs in :49.40 Saturday morning.  A final decision on her participation is still pending.

Saturday morning also saw the aptly named Mongolian Saturday work toward a possible start in the Arlington Sprint.  The lively gelding worked a bullet three furlongs in :36 for owner Mongolian Stable and trainer Enebish Ganbat.  Last seen setting the pace in the Grade III Hanshin Cup before fading to eighth - beaten just over five lengths - Mongolian Saturday has placed in three stakes, including the $75,000 Caixa Electronica in March at Gulfstream Park.  The Arlington Sprint would be the son of Any Given Saturday’s first on the grass since a seventh-place in October’s Grade III Hawthorne Derby.