Two-years ago the connections for Mister Marti Gras threw a party when the Chris Block-trained gelding notched his first graded-stakes win, coming from six lengths back in the stretch to take a neck victory in the Washington Park Handicap. Last year, the victory party had to be put on hold when long shot Middie scored an upset in the same race. This Saturday, Mister Marti Gras gets a chance at redemption with the Washington Park going as the feature ninth race at Arlington Park.
A Grade III $150,000 race for three-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles on the dirt, the Washington Park has drawn an expected field of six. In prepping for his third Washington try in three years, Mister Marti Gras did his best running late in winning his last time out, the Mystic Lake Mile at Canterbury Downs. Prior to that he had come four-wide late to get up for second in the 1-mile Hanshin Cup Stakes at Arlington, so the added distance for the Washington Park should suit him well once they turn for home.
It won’t be easy, however, as Mister Marti Gras will be facing Willcox Inn, who has yet to win this year in five tries against top graded-stakes company, but who in May finished a close second in the Grade II Dixie Stakes, and last time out ran a game fifth behind Big Blue Kitten and Little Mike in the Grade I United Nations. Also entered in the Washington Park is the four-year-old Agent Di Nozzo, who has won four-of-five starts this year including a couple wins in lesser stakes races with a pace-stalking style.
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