Da Big Hoss Stands Tall in St. Leger

The American St. Leger (gr. IIIT) run at 1 11/16 miles and one of the key marathon races on the sporting calendar goes as race six on the Arlington International Racecourse card with a local post time of approximately 3:05 p.m. CDT.

Trainer Mike Maker takes a three-prong approach to the race worth $300,000 with Generous Kitten, on the rail with Robbie Albarado; Da Big Hoss with Florent Geroux up in post 5; and Rocket Professor in post 7 with Shaun Bridgmohan.

The heavy hitter is Skychai Racing's Da Big Hoss (9-5 morning line) winner last time out in the 1 15/16-miles Belmont Gold Cup June 10 as the 2-1 favorite. Charging from 10 lengths off the lead the son of Lemon Drop Kid   won by 1 1/2 lengths under Geroux. He carried 123 that day and in the St. Leger is the 126-pound highweight.

Prior to the Belmont score, Da Big Hoss topped Kaigun in the 12-furlong Elkhorn Stakes (gr. IIT) at Keeneland. In his lone outing on the Arlington turf course, Da Big Hoss broke his maiden.

Maker's Generous Kitten is from the deep bench of Ken and Sarah Ramsey. Though not that accomplished against stakes foes, the 5-year-old Kitten's Joy gelding has a pair of wins from earlier in the year at longer distances.

Not many Moroccan-breds make their way to graded stakes in the U.S., but watch for Billabong trained by Pascal Bary. An international player, the 7-year-old Billabong (Gentlewave--Lunattori, by Vettori) won a minor stakes at Longchamp in France last year at 1 1/2 miles and was second in Italy's Gran Premio di Milano (Ity-I) under 133 pounds. He'll tote a scant 119 while being ridden by Flavian Prat and getting Lasix for the first time.

Last time out, in late February, Billabong was second in Qatar in the listed 12-furlong His Highness The Emirs Trophy, picking up $220,000.

Imports are heavy in this year's St. Leger with 9-2 Clondaw Warrior in from Ireland and German-based Wasir making their way to Arlington Heights. German-bred Messi is a grade III winner stateside and was third last time out going 1 3/16 miles in the Arlington Handicap (gr. IIIT). The Arlington Handicap winner, Kasaqui, has a big shot in the day's main event, the Arlington Million XXXIV Stakes (gr. IT).