Surgical Strike Looms as Favorite in $100,000 Arlington Classic

Surgical Strike tops the wide open field as the morning line favorite at odds of 5-2 for trainer Ben Colebrook. A chestnut son of Red Giant, he has been on the board in six of his ten starts and is trying to earn his first graded stakes victory. He has been competitive on both turf and synthetics and was last seen finishing second in the American Turf Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs. James Graham will be aboard and they will break from post position four.

Tequila Joe getting a class test

Second choice at morning line odds of 9-2 is Tequila Joe for trainer Michael Stidham. A bay son of Stormy Atlantic, he has won two of his four starts and will be stepping up to graded stakes competition for the first time. He returned off of a six-month layoff to win an allowance race at Keeneland last time out. Jose Valdivia, Jr. will be in the irons and they are scheduled to break from the outside post.

Two Step Time needs to make a step forward

Also in the field at morning line odds of 8-1 is Two Step Time, one of two horses in the race for trainer Michael Maker. A dark bay son of Two Step Salsa, he has been on the board in five of his eight starts and is trying to notch his fourth victory. He will be trying to rebound after an eleventh-place finish in the American Turf Stakes (G2) and will have jockey Leandro Goncalves aboard from the rail.