Admission Office, Walkathon Capture Graded Events

The 7-year-old Admission Office  looked none the worse for wear in his first start in nearly 14 months with a late-running score in the June 4 $197,500 Arlington Stakes (G3T) at Churchill Downs.

Trainer Brian Lynch was flush with praise for the Amerman homebred, who he explained had suffered setback after setback in his long journey back to the races.

"Being off a layoff, to run like that was phenomenal," said Lynch. "I thought we had a lot of horse when Johnny (Velazquez) turned for home. I'm really thankful for the Amermans for being patient with him getting back to the races. He's always had a lot of talent and has run in some serious races in the past. To show up and perform like that against these horses didn't surprise me because of his back class."

Admission Office, making his first reported start as a gelding Saturday, became a grade 3 winner two years ago at Churchill when he defeated Arklow in the Louisville Stakes (G3T).

Breaking flat in a field of six for the Arlington, Admission Office was content to trail well off the pace under John Velazquez. Up front, multiple graded stakes winner Get Smokin  led the charge uncontested through splits of :23.82, 48:77, and 1:13.44. Set down for the stretch drive, Get Smokin appeared home free inside the final furlong, fending off the challenges of Field Pass  and Floriform  before Admission Office roared down the center of the track, surging a head past the pacesetter right near the wire.

"(Admission Office) just kept finding more and more with each stride," said Velazquez. "He was sitting in a good trip and relaxed off the pace. I tipped him in the clear mid-stretch and he kept accelerating."

Get Smokin finished a heartbreaking second in a tenacious effort.

"You won't find a more honest horse than (Get Smokin)," said one of his owners, Harlan Malter of Ironhorse Racing Stable. "He ran such a great effort in his first start back from Dubai (where he finished 16th in the Al Quoz Sprint Sponsored By Azizi Developments (G1)). He was just three jumps too short."

Field Pass completed the trifecta in a race in which the winner was timed in 1:43.53 for 1 1/16 miles on a firm turf course.

Lynch indicated that Admission Office ($17.20) could show up next in the July 2 Wise Dan Stakes (G2T) at Churchill.

Bred in Kentucky, the son of Point of Entry   is produced from the winning Royal Academy mare Miss Chapin , making him a half sibling to the Amerman campaigned grade-1 winning turf mare Coffee Clique  (Medaglia d'Oro  ) and multiple graded stakes-placed Royal Fury  (Langfuhr). Miss Chapin has a yearling colt by Oscar Performance   and foaled a Catalina Cruiser   colt this past term.

Video: Arlington S. (G3T)

Walkathon Wins Third Straight in Regret

Whitham Thoroughbreds' Walkathon  continued her steady climb up the ladder of improvement with 1 1/4-length victory in the $195,000 Regret Stakes (G3T) for 3-year-old fillies.

After failing to find the winner's circle in her first five tries when competing on the dirt and synthetic surfaces, trainer Ian Wilkes stuck the daughter of Twirling Candy   on the turf in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight at Keeneland. Walkathon found her stride on the lawn, swooping to a two-length tally before circling the field for a hard-fought triumph facing winners in a May 14 allowance optional claiming contest at Churchill Downs.

Making the leap to stakes company in the Regret, and running a sixteenth further than she's traveled before, Walkathon went to post as the second choice behind Edgewood Stakes presented by Forcht Bank (G2T) runner-up McKulick  from the Chad Brown barn. Away alertly, Walkathon broke on top but quickly conceded the lead to longshot Lola Flo . Unlike in her allowance win, where she fought hard against her early constraint, the bay appeared to relax much kinder under a snug hold from jockey Julien Leparoux, tracking Lola Flo's opening quarter-mile of :24.19 and half-mile in :48.46.

Walkathon closed the leader's gap racing into the far turn and strode by Lola Flo effortlessly, powering away to a three-length advantage at the eighth pole. McKulick, stalking in fourth position throughout, rallied gallantly down the lane but couldn't catch Walkathon, who hit the line in a time of 1:49.26 for the 1 1/8 miles on firm turf.

"She can be a bit hyper and get worked up but that's just who she is," said Leparoux. "In the race she was able to settle in a good position off (Lola Flo) and she was full of run at the end. I couldn't ask for anything more. She loves this turf and has really shown that her last few starts."

The Regret registered an important milestone for Leparoux, who claimed his 1,000th career victory at Churchill Downs.

"It feels great and I'm glad to get it done today for Ian," said Leparoux. "I've ridden for him for about 15 years now and it's special to be able to get this milestone with him. I can't really pick a moment that stands out above the others for the 1,000 wins but I'm very thankful for everyone who's gotten me this far."

McKulick was 6 1/4 lengths clear of Beside Herself  in third.

Earning her third straight win in the Regret, Walkathon ($7.20) improved her overall record to 3-2-0 from seven starts and earnings to $289,996.

Walkabout is a fourth-generation Whitman family homebred hailing back to the great race mare Bayakoa (ARG). She is the first foal for her dam, the graded stakes-winning Stroll mare Walkabout , also trained by Wilkes. Walkabout is a half sister to Whitman's multiple grade 1 winner Fort Larned  , an earner of over $4.4 million and conquerer of the 2012 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). The mare delivered a colt by Nyquist   this spring.

Video: Regret S. (G3T)

Bango, Kitodan Score

Later on the card, Tamaroak Stable's homebred Bango  defended his title in the $199,833 Aristides Stakes for older horses.Trained by Greg Foley, the 5-year-old son of Congrats  won the six-furlong race by 2 1/2 lengths in a time of 1:08.54 on a fast main track under jockey Tyler Gaffalione.

Video: Aristides S. (BT)

In the final stakes of the day, Kitodan  upset the field at 40-1 odds to post a head victory over Smokin' T  in the $200,000 Audobon Stakes for 3-year-olds. Owned by Foster Family Racing, Douglas Miller, and William Wargel and trained by Eric Foster, the Point of Entry   colt raced the 1 1/8-miles on grass in 1:49.85 under jockey Gerardo Corrales.

Video: Audubon S. (BT)