Willcox Inn and Banned turn in their workouts on turf for the Grade 1 Secretariat at Arlington Park on 13 August, 2011.
The two principal contenders, 3-year-old Thomas Proctor trained colt, Banned, and the Michael Stidham trained Willcox Inn, for the Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes, took on the field at Arlington on 7 August, 2011, to turn in turf workouts for the much anticipated
fixture.
The Grade 1 Secretariat is part of the Grade 1 Triple at the Arlington Park followed by Beverly D and Arlington Million on 13 August, 2011.
The son of Harlan’s Holiday, Willcox Inn started his workout in company of the Beverly D entrant Upperline, as Willcox Inn broke way behind the filly, 5 lengths to be precise, and pushed hard to catch her and made an evenly matched run to finish almost on
even terms.
He was timed 50.40 seconds as the filly Upperline made an impressive run and reached the half mile mark in 51.40 seconds. It was a good work out for both the horses, as they got what they wanted from the breeze session and pleased their trainers.
All In Stable owned Willcox Inn is coming off an impressive run, with two victories under his belt in his last two outings, including the Grade 2 American Derby at Arlington Park.
The colt has had four starts this season, with 2 wins and 1 runner up position, Willcox Inn has looked good this season. His heavy effort at the Arlington Park on 28 May, 2011 in the Arlington Classic turned some serious heads as the colt destroyed his foes
to finish in 1 minute and 49.51 seconds.
The race was run at a distance of 1 1/16 mile on turf, and Willcox Inn and jockey Robby Albarado nailed Suntracer and Extensive to place his first win of the season.
His second win came right after the first in the Grade 2 American Derby at Arlington Park on 9 July, 2011.
Arlington Park’s turf course suited the colt, as jockey Robby Albarado skimmed past Dreamy Kitten and downed his rival Suntracer yet again to win in 1 minute 54.56 seconds.
The son of Kitten’s Joy, Banned also looks in contention to win the Grade 1 Secretariat despite his runner up finish in the Grade 2 Virginia Derby last month on 16 July, 2011.
Run under jockey Jose Lezcano at a distance of 1 ¼ mile on turf, Banned finished behind the winner Air Support at Colonial Downs.
Prior to the loss, Banned won his previous two starts, once under Garret Gomez when the pair went on to win the Grade 2 American Turf at Churchill Downs over at a distance of 1 1/16 miles on 6 May, 2011.
Second win came under jockey Jose Lezcano in the Grade 3 Jefferson Cup run at a similar distance as the American Turf.
Tom Proctor’s Air Support, the Virginia Derby winner, is also likely to participate in the Grade 1 Secretariat.
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