The Pizza Man Still Looms Large in Stars and Stripes
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Photo: Michael Burns
The Pizza Man (inside) takes the Northern Dancer Turf Stakes at Woodbine in September
All eyes will be on The Pizza Man as he attempts to show there is still some steam left in the engine when he competes in the $100,000 Stars and Stripes Stakes (G3T) going 12 furlongs at Arlington International Racecourse July 8.
Midwest Thoroughbreds’ homebred The Pizza Man, an 8-year-old gelding by English Channel , has banked more than $2.1 million in his 34-race career, but the victories are coming less frequently now. In September he won the Northern Dancer Turf Stakes Presented by HBIBet (G1T) at Woodbine, but his last two losses have come in progressively easier company.
After he checked in fourth in the grade 1 Pattison Canadian International in October, The Pizza Man ran third in the grade 3 River City Handicap and then fourth in the Black Tie Affair Handicap last month at Arlington. Although that effort came over yielding ground, it should be noted he won the Arlington Million XXXIII Stakes (G1T) two years ago over the same course and turf condition. He finished fourth in the Stars and Stripes a year ago, but missed by just a head.
Applicator will remain in graded company after popping and stopping in the Woodford Reserve Manhattan Stakes (G1T) last time out, when he weakened to eighth at 10 furlongs. He hasn’t won in more than 13 months and is just 2-for-26 lifetime. He is also entered in the $100,000 Arlington Handicap (G3T) the same day. One Go All Go exits the River City, in which he pressed early and then stopped to finish last of 13. He is a grade 2 winner, but that came nearly two years ago, and the recent graded tries do not inspire optimism.
Flashy Chelsey is moving up after being claimed for $62,500 last time out. His last graded effort came in the Jefferson Cup Stakes (G3T) nearly two years ago, when he finished fourth. Bodhisattva is making his 32nd start and first on turf.
Stars and Stripes S. (G3T)
Arlington International Racecourse, Saturday, July 08, 2017, Race 8
- 1 1/2m
- Turf
- $100,000
- 3 yo's & up
- 5:10 PM (local)
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer | M/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1Keystoneforvictory (KY) |
Julien R. Leparoux | 117 | Michael J. Maker | 5/1 |
| 2 | 2Bodhisattva (CA) | Blake Shinn | 121 | Jose Corrales | 12/1 |
| 3 | 3Flashy Chelsey (KY) |
Robby Albarado | 117 | Michael J. Maker | 8/1 |
| 4 | 4One Go All Go (VA) | Declan Cannon | 117 | Pavel Matejka | 10/1 |
| 5 | 5The Pizza Man (IL) | Florent Geroux | 117 | Roger A. Brueggemann | 8/5 |
| 6 | 6Applicator (KY) | Jose Valdivia, Jr. | 117 | Mikhail Yanakov | 5/2 |
| 7 | 7Feodor (KY) |
Santo Sanjur | 117 | Pavel Vashchenko | 30/1 |
| 8 | 8Mongol G (KY) | Sebastian Saez | 117 | Enebish Ganbat | 30/1 |
| 9 | 9Belomor (ON) |
Carlos H. Marquez, Jr. | 117 | Pavel Vashchenko | 10/1 |