Solitary Ranger Strikes in Arlington-Washington Futurity

Solitary Ranger claims solid win in the $150,000 Arlington-Washington Futurity on Sept. 7, 2013 at Arlington Park. Photo courtesy of Fout Footed Fotos.
By Claire Novak, @BH_CNovak
Susan Moulton's Solitary Ranger returned from a layup to take the $150,000 Arlington-Washington Futurity in solid fashion Sept. 7 at Arlington Park, becoming his sire's first graded stakes winner and flattering the form of group I winner No Nay Never in the process.
Second to No Nay Never by two lengths in an April 26 maiden special weight at Keeneland for trainer Wayne Catalano last out—before that rival went on to claim the Norfolk Stakes and Darley Prix Morny—the 2-year-old son of first-crop sire U S Ranger never took a breather in the one-mile Polytrack race, clear at the end by 5 1/2 lengths at odds of 7-2 in a seven-horse field.
Catalano said he plans to pre-enter Solitary Ranger in both the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf to be run in November at Santa Anita Park. The Juvenile Turf is a one-mile grass race, while the Juvenile is run at 1 1/16 miles on the dirt.
Solitary Ranger and longshot Lotsa Mischief hooked up from the start of the Arlington-Washington, with Solitary Ranger inching a head in front to go a quarter in :22.89 before Lotsa Mischief narrowly took over on the inside by about half a length for a half in :45.43.
Solitary Ranger reclaimed the advantage at the quarter pole, however, and opened up turning for home through three-quarters in 1:11.95 as his front end challenger gave way and faded to last. 
Under confident handling from jockey Florent Geroux, the bay colt raced seven-eighths while holding safe from Whyruawesome, who made a late run but lugged in down the stretch and never threatened the winner.
Final time for the distance was 1:38.17.
Solitary Ranger paid $9, $4.80, and $3.60, Whyareuawesome brought $4 and $2.80, and Cee 'n O paid $5.20 to show. Captain's Affair, favored High Roll, Joedini, and Lotsa Mischief completed the order of finish. Gone Mountain and Mighty Brown scratched.
The Arlington-Washington was a third start for Solitary Ranger, who prior to his April 26 second was runner-up in an April 7 maiden special weight, also at Keeneland. Bred in Kentucky by Richard Forbush & U S Ranger Syndicate out of the Lil E. Tee mare Galileo's Star, he has now earned $109,000.
Solitary Ranger went through the ring at the 2012 Ocala Breeders Sales Co.'s August sale for $28,000, and raced for Marshall Dowell and William Pate for his first two starts.
U S Ranger, a son of Danzig out of the Red Ransom mare My Annette, entered stud in 2010 and stands for $5,000 at WinStar Farm near Versailles, Ky.
SOLITARY RANGER WINS THE 2013 ARLINGTON-WASHINGTON FUTURITY
Photo courtesy of Fout Footed Fotos.