Gerard Butler's decision to base a division of his string at Arlington continues to pay dividends. The Co. Kildare native sent Michael Deegan's Pachattack out to win the 100,000 Grade 3 Arlington Matron Stakes on Saturday.
Pachattack, a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred mare, drew off under Florent Geroux to win by six lengths on Arlington's synthetic main track. She came into this race off two unsuccessful tries in England. She finished off 2010 with a victory at Woodbine in the Maple Leaf Stakes, which was also run over a synthetic surface.
"We knew when she was sitting mid-division and coming to the final turn that she had plenty in the tank," said Deegan. "So we were quite confident, but you never know who might come after you in the homestretch. I think she's definitely stronger [than she was last year] and more mature. Gerard and the team are doing a smashing job."
Pachattack returned $8.40 to win. Her final time of 1:49.64 for nine furlongs was just slightly off the track standard of 1:49.30 set in 2007.
SALLY BOOMS AT THE SHORE
Derek Ryan sent out Boom Town Sally to victory in Saturday's first race at Monmouth Park. The 5-year-old mare is owned by the Parting Glass Stable, a partnership run out of the epicenter of Irish culture - its namesake pub - in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Boom Town Sally and Pedro Cotto, Jr. hit the front right out of the gate and drew off to a 9-length triumph that yielded a $4.80 win mutuel. Better yet, there were no takers at the claim box in this 2-turn mile for limited winners at the $12,500 level.
Harry Sloan cracked with Eire Farm's Eire of Wisdom in his first start after the 5-year-old gelding was transferred to Fort Erie from Danny O'Callaghan's string at Woodbine. Jockey MarkLee Buchanan had Eire of Wisdom in striking position to the top of the lane, when he asked his mount for his best and got it, drawing off to a 5-length win in this 5-furlong sprint against limited winners running for $4,000 claiming tags. The Sloan runner paid $16.20 to win.
Mike Doyle won three races at Woodbine last week, beginning with Scott Abbott's Dance to the Moon in Wednesday's seventh race. The 4-year-old Abbott homebred filly either pressed or made the early pace and drew off under Slade Callaghan to score by three lengths in this second-level allowance sprint on the main track. She paid $6.20 to win.
Doyle then broke a couple of maidens, with Abbott's Charlie's Friend getting the job done in career start number three on the drop from maiden special weight company to the selling ranks. The 5-year-old mare flashed her tail the entire way under Eurico da Silva and returned $5.70 to win. Doyle and da Silva then teamed up in Saturday's 10th race to get a first win out of Dura Racing's Celtic Connection. The 3-year-old gelding won by a length, racing on the front end the entire seven furlongs. He paid $11.90 in scoring in his sixth career try.
Cathal Lynch knocked off consecutive races at Philly Park on Sunday. His Tatum Creek needed everything he could muster to get up by a nose in the second race for his maiden breaker against $25,000 company. The 4-year-old filly and Grey Goddess hooked up with about a half-mile to run in this 6-furlong sprint and were nearly inseparable to the wire. Angel Arroyo had the seat on the winner, which was claimed out of the race by Ramon Preciado. Tatum Creek paid $3.20 to win in this, her third career outing.
Thirty minutes later, Lynch was greeting Robert Roffey's Point Judith and Arroyo in the winner's circle after they emerged a neck the best in a photo finish. The race was a non-winners of two races lifetime at a mile on the main track at the $25,000 claiming level. Point Judith returned an $8.00 win mutuel.
The Lynch barn celebrated the Memorial Day holiday with a victory by Peter Hand's Attack Jack in the sixth race at Parx. Stewart Elliot broke quickly with the 7-year-old gelding in its second race off a 5-month layoff and extended to a 2-length victory under the wire. Attack Jack paid $5.20 to win as the chalk in this 6-furlong sprint for nickel claimers.
