Synchrony Stands Out in Arlington Handicap
Image:
Description:
Photo: Nicole Marie
Synchrony captures the Muniz Memorial Handicap at Fair Grounds Race Course
Since joining the barn of trainer Mike Stidham last winter and switching to the turf, even Synchrony's "off" days have produced efforts that stand him among the best in the grass male division.
In six starts on the lawn, the worst the chestnut son of Tapit has finished is third, that coming when he dipped his toe into top-level waters for the first time during the May 5 Old Forester Turf Classic Stakes (G1T) at Churchill Downs. Should the Pin Oak Stable homebred perform up to his usual standards July 7 in the $100,000 Arlington Handicap (G3T) at Arlington International Racecourse, he'll likely have another grade 1 chance in his future.
"Our goal is that he runs well on the (Arlington) turf and then what we can consider the (grade 1 Arlington) Million," Stidham said, referencing Arlington's Aug. 11 signature test.
Synchrony will have the main target on his back when he faces 11 others in the 1 3/16 miles Arlington Handicap, one of four graded stakes events scheduled for Saturday's "Ride to the Million" card. The top three finishers of the Arlington Handicap will have their entry and starting fees waived for the Arlington Million.
The 5-year-old Synchrony began his career under the care of trainer Donnie K. Von Hemel, who conditioned the horse to two victories and a third-place effort behind future grade 1 winner Collected in the 2016 Lexington Stakes (G3) at Keeneland. In his second start for Stidham and first try on grass, Synchrony scored in a second level allowance event at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots last March. He has been a consistent performer at the stakes level since.
Synchrony began his 2018 campaign with back-to-back wins in the Fair Grounds Handicap (G3T) and Muniz Memorial Handicap (G2T), the latter of which saw him best graded stakes winner Arklow. Despite racing over a yielding course at Churchill in the Old Forester Turf Classic, the Kentucky-bred managed to close from last in the nine-horse field and get up for third, beaten 3 3/4 lengths by race winner Yoshida.
"The only race where he didn't run as well was that bog at Churchill," Stidham said. "That turf was so bad, but he came from last to make a pretty good run at them. I think he'll like the Arlington turf."
Synchrony drew post 3 in the 12-horse Arlington Handicap lineup.
After not making his seasonal bow until May 26—a runner-up effort in the Monmouth Stakes (G2T) —multiple grade 1 winner Divisidero will be on relatively short rest in the Arlington Handicap. The son of Kitten's Joy finished fourth in the June 16 Wise Dan Stakes (G2T) at Churchill June 16 and is aiming to snap a five-race losing streak that has built up since his victory in the 2017 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic.
Stidham will also be represented in the Arlington Handicap's 1 3/16-mile sister race, the $100,000 Modesty Handicap (G3T) for fillies and mares. Stidham is set to saddle Godolphin's two-time stakes winner Hallie Belle, who enters off a victory in April 21 Dahlia Stakes at Laurel Park where she defeated graded stakes winner Hawksmoor by a nose.
"We're coming in off of that win with her and she's doing well again," Stidham said.
The Modesty Handicap will mark the graded stakes debut for the daughter of Medaglia d'Oro , and she'll have some accomplished company around her.
Grade 1 winner Daddys Lil Darling will be making her first start over the Arlington course and comes in off a third-place finish in the New York Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G2T).
Ken and Sarah Ramsey's Daring Duchess ran fifth in last year's edition of the Modesty but has finished in the top two in four of her last five races.
Wesley Ward trainee Con Te Partiro captured the Sandringham Stakes at Royal Ascot last June but has struggled to regain her best form in four start since. The daughter of Scat Daddy was most recently third to fellow Modesty entrant Princess La Quinta in the May 19 Arlington Matron Stakes (G3T).
Arlington International Racecourse, Saturday, July 07, 2018, Race 9Entries: Arlington H. (G3T)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Christian C (IL)
Julio E. Felix
116
Wayne M. Catalano
30/1
2
2Hot Dad (KY)
Sophie Doyle
114
Christopher Davis
30/1
3
3Synchrony (KY)
Joe Bravo
122
Michael Stidham
6/5
4
4Compass Zone (KY)
Florent Geroux
115
Brad H. Cox
8/1
5
5Converge (NY)
Jose Valdivia, Jr.
115
Naipaul Chatterpaul
30/1
6
6Tizzarunner (MD)
Corey J. Lanerie
114
Michael J. Maker
20/1
7
7Western Elegance (KY)
Santo Sanjur
116
Liane P. Davis
30/1
8
8Twenty Four Seven (KY)
Jermaine V. Bridgmohan
115
Roger A. Brueggemann
30/1
9
9Just Howard (MD)
Feargal Lynch
117
H. Graham Motion
20/1
10
10Revved Up (KY)
Jose Lezcano
116
Claude R. McGaughey III
10/1
11
11Divisidero (KY)
Jevian Toledo
121
Kelly Rubley
2/1
12
12Roman Approval (KY)
Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.
117
Michael J. Maker
30/1
Arlington International Racecourse, Saturday, July 07, 2018, Race 6Entries: Modesty H. (G3T)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Majestic Angel (KY)
Edgar Perez
115
Eric R. Reed
30/1
2
2Oh So Terrible (KY)
Sophie Doyle
113
Bradley S. Ross
50/1
3
3Go Baby Run (KY)
Jermaine V. Bridgmohan
110
Thomas H. Swearingen
50/1
4
4Celestial Insight (KY)
Florent Geroux
118
H. Graham Motion
5/1
5
5La Manta Gris (KY)
Declan Cannon
115
George R. Arnold, II
15/1
6
6Hallie Belle (KY)
Joe Bravo
116
Michael Stidham
8/1
7
7Princess La Quinta (KY)
Carlos H. Marquez, Jr.
117
James M. Gulick
15/1
8
8Church Social (KY)
Jose Valdivia, Jr.
114
Claude R. McGaughey III
20/1
9
9Prado's Sweet Ride (IL)
Jose E. Lopez
119
Chris M. Block
10/1
10
10Daring Duchess (KY)
Jose Lezcano
120
Michael J. Maker
5/1
11
11Sully's Dream (KY)
Channing Hill
118
John Alexander Ortiz
12/1
12
12Con Te Partiro (KY)
Corey J. Lanerie
116
Wesley A. Ward
15/1
13
13Daddys Lil Darling (KY)
Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.
124
Kenneth G. McPeek
9/5