Greengrassofyoming Wins Stars and Stripes

Greengrassofyoming thrust out his nose in a four-horse finish to capture the Stars and Stripes Stakes (gr. IIIT) July 9 at Arlington International Racecourse, as two-time defending winner The Pizza Man just missed in fourth. 

Greengrassofyoming, a 6-year-old Quest gelding, covered 1 1/2 miles in 2:27.74 on firm turf and tallied his first graded win for Patricia's Hope. Trainer Mike Maker claimed him for $62,500 out of a June 26 allowance optional/claimer at Churchill Downs.

"I've been following this horse for the past couple of years and we were fortunate enough to get him last time, with this race in mind," Maker said of Greengrassofyoming, who has eight wins from 36 starts, including the 2014 Remington Green Stakes, a listed race he finished third in last year.

While Chip Leader set an uncontested pace and opened seven-length lead on O'Prado Ole through a mile, Shaun Bridgmohan bided his time and kept Greengrassofyoming comfortable in fifth, then fourth, along the inside. He then moved his mount to advance three wide on the final turn. O'Prado Ole took charge at the three-eighths pole from faltering Chip Leader but Greengrassofyoming overtook him in upper stretch and held on to prevail in a desperate finish.

O'Prado Ole held for second, a nose in front of Pumpkin Rumble, who was a nose in front of The Pizza Man, after he was next to last through a mile.

The Star and Stripes was part of a nine-race Million Preview Day card at the suburban Chicago track, and offered the top three finishers a fees-paid berth into the grade III American St. Leger on Arlington Million Day Aug. 13.

Greengrassofyoming, bred in Kentucky by Stone Farm, is out of the Dehere mare Flick. He was a $3,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by Dwight Preston.

The Million Preview card also included a victory in the $125,000 Arlington Handicap (gr. IIIT) by Argentine-bred Kasaqui rebounded from a runner-up finish in the Wise Dan (gr. IIT) at Churchill last time out. 

Wimborne Farm's son of Lasting Approval won by 1 1/4 lengths after overtaking runner-up Roman Approval in midstretch to earn his first stakes win. German-bred Messi was third.

Ridden by Robby Albarado for trainer Ignacio Correas IV, Kasaqui covered 1 3/16 miles in 1:55.62, taking his record to 5-7-1 from 19 starts.

A multiple winner going 1 1/4 miles in his native Argentina, Kasaqui was making his fifth U.S. start. His dam is the Alysheba mare Kemosheba.

The top three finishers from the Arlington Handicap earn a fees-paid starting berth in the $1 million Arlington Million (gr. IT).

Albarado came back one race later and took the $125,000 American Derby (gr. IIIT) with One Mean Man, who was up late to win by a half length from favorite Oscar Nominated. 

Final time was 1:48.86 for the 1 1/8 mile turf contest. 

Tequila Joe was third, a length behind Oscar Nominated. 

Bernie Flint trains One Mean Man, a son of Mizzen Mast  , for L. T. B. Inc. and Hillerich Racing. The 3-year-old colt, bred by Flint and Ron Hillerich, has a 4-3-1 record from 13 starts, including the Keith Gee Memorial in January. 

The top three finishers in the race eanred automatic entry into the  $450,000 Secretariat Stakes (gr. IT), also Aug. 13.

Saturday's graded stakes action kicked off with well-bred Faufiler's 1 1/4-length win in the $125,000 Modesty Handciap (gr. IIIT). The 5-year-old daughter of Galileo out of European champion and Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) victress Six Perfections earned an automatic berth into the Beverly D. (gr. IT) for fillies and mares Aug. 13 Million card. She is a Niarchos family homebred.

With Jose Valdivia Jr. riding for trainer Graham Motion, Faufiler was timed in 1:56.12 for 1 3/16 miles on turf. Previously campaigned is France where she won two stakes and placed twice at the group III level, she won for the second time in six U.S. starts that include her victory in the Sand Springs Stakes in February at Gulfstream Park followed by a second in the Royal Heroine (gr. IIT).

Al's Gal was second in the Modesty, with Secret Someone third.