Jump to User Comments Jump to Race Entries/Results ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - In the same way you know Calvin Borel is coming up the fence if he can, you just know that jockey E.T. Baird is going to the lead if at all reasonable. Yet Baird still put them all to sleep Saturday at Arlington Park, guiding Gran Estreno to a front-running victory in the Grade 3, $200,000 Washington Park Handicap.

Gran Estreno was the last to load in the Washington Park, and a split second after the back door closed behind him the gates opened for the start of the race. But Baird still was ready. Gran Estreno crossed over to make an early lead - and all but slowed to a common gallop. The first quarter-mile of the one and three-sixteenths mile Polytrack race went in 25.87 seconds, the half in 52.42. The six furlong time was so pokey (a little more than 1:19) that the Equibase data-collection-system refused to allow it - too slow to be possible, the computer believed.

So, when it came time to cut at the top of the stretch, Gran Estreno hadn't even taken a deep breath. He outsprinted pace-pressing Dubious Miss to the finish to win by a half-length in a race where the running order did not change between the stretch call and the finish.

Gran Estreno earned an automatic entry into the Breeders' Cup Classic, but he is Argentine-bred and not BC-eligible, and it would take a boatload of supplemental funds just to start. But put all that aside. Right now, Gran Estreno is just an excellent $20,000 claim. The Feel the Thunder Stable (Marty Nixon, principal) took the horse for that price on May 1, turning him over to trainer Mike Stidham. Gran Estreno won right back for a $35,000 tag, won for $50,000, won the $99,000 Claiming Crown Emerald, and on Saturday, took home the $116,400 winner's share of the Washington Park purse.

"Gotta be," said Stidham, asked if Gran Estreno was the best claim of his career.

Gran Estreno paid $12.20 to win, and was timed in 2:00.61 for the 1 3/16 miles. Dubious Miss finished 1 1/2 lengths better than third-place Wicked Style, with Eldaafer fourth. Favored Church Service backed up to finish last, beaten almost 15 lengths by the winner.