Rahystrada Takes Arlington Handicap

Rahystrada, a nine-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Rahy, made history this past weekend when he became the first horse to capture the Arlington Handicap three times. Running in career start number 44, Rahystrada earned career win number 14. The chestnut colt, who broke his maiden at Ellis Park first time out way back in 2006, had also captured the 2010 and 2012 versions of the Grade III Arlington Handicap. It was the fifth Grade III stakes victory of his long career, and first since winning the race last year.

Holds off long-shot in stretch drive

As third choice in the Arlington Handicap field, Rahystrada broke from post #6 under jockey Rosie Napravnik and took up a stalking position just off pacesetter Beer Garden through the first part of the 1 ¼ miles race. Assuming the lead at the mile pole, Rahystrada opened up by as much as 1 ½ lengths in mid-stretch, before beginning to drift out. Kept to the task by Napravnik, he managed to hit the wire first, a half-length in front of Temeraine, at 30-1 the longest shot on the board, with favorite Dullahan a neck back.

Fourth time may be the charm for Million

As he has done in the past following a win in the Handicap, (and even in 2011, when he didn’t run it) all signs point to Rahystrada making his next start the Grade I Arlington Million on Saturday August 17, 2013. In three previous Million tries, he’s run fourth, fifth and third last year, his best finish ever in a top-graded event. For his career, Rahystrada now has 14 wins, five seconds and eight thirds, and lifetime purse earnings of more than $1.3 million.  A victory in the Arlington Million would be a fine feather to cap his career.