YONKERS, NY, Tuesday, July 3, 2012—He's the best 3-year-old trotter racing in New York looking to win the best race for 3-year-old trotters in New York.
Such is the Reader's Digest resume of Archangel, who prepares for another
Yonkers Raceway work night, this time in Saturday's 58th Yonkers
Trot.
For what it's worth, his name is first among the five entrants, who also
include world champion Googoo Gaagaa, Market Share, Muscolo and Stormin
Normand.
The again, Archangel has made "first" his modus operandi, finishing
first in his last five races entering the 58th Yonkers Trot.
The son of Credit Winner has run roughshod over his rivals this season, with
the biggest portion of his $189,112 on account earned in the $233,250
final of the last month's Empire Breeders Classic at Vernon (life-best 1:53.1).
Jim Morrill Jr.--Archangel's driver in 10 of last 11 purse starts--reprises the
role Saturday.
"(Archangel) has been everything we could have hoped for," trainer
Peter Arrigenna--who has put the hamlet of Piffard, NY, on the horse racing map--said
of the former $120,000 Harrisburg yearling he co-owns with Alan Hainsworth and
Clare Semer.
"I love working with young trotters," Arrigenna said. "I can
teach them what to do and what not to do from Day One.
"Last season, Archangel showed me a lot (three wins, six seconds and a
third in 13 starts, earnings of $135,193). He had the speed, but he would
occasionally pull himself up. He just needed to grow up.” All of his wins came
against Empire company, including a sire stakes win (with Jason Bartlett
driving, see accompanying photo) here last September.
After a runner-up effort in the $175,000 final of the New York Sire Stakes,
Archangel tested the open company waters. He finished second in his Breeders
Crown elimination and sixth in the final, with both races won by Uncle Peter.
"I took the trotting hobbles off this season, because I didn't think he
needed them," Arrigenna said. "It's worked out. He's more mature, and
he can reach out his stride even further. I also added earplugs with him.”
This is not Arrigenna's first rodeo with a good trotter. His Tuesdays with Mom
won the 2010 final of the New York Sire Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, earnings
in excess of $468,000 for her career before being euthanized (colic) last
December.
"I see a lot of her in Archangel. He knows what he's out there for. That
may not sound like a big thing, but I've been around enough that didn't to make
me appreciate it. He's also a horse who doesn't make it hard on himself. He
just goes about his business. I have no idea how fast he really is.”
Yonkers Trot trip was always on the radar.
"Definitely," Arrigenna said. "I know my horse can get around a
small track, and he's earned the right to be there with the best.
“There are only five in there, but when
you go against Googaa Gaagaa and Stormin Normand, there's a lot of talent.
"We're looking at the Grand Circuit for the rest of the season. He's
eligible to all the Triple Crown races, the Colonial, Zweig, Canadian Trotting
Classic, Breeders Crown and Matron.
"We even started to look down the road to standing him. He has all the
credentials, except winning a major race."
That may change sooner rather than later.
Post positions for both the $445,594 Yonkers Trot and $185,194 Hudson Filly
Trot shall be drawn Tuesday night in Yonkers Raceway's winner's circle. The draws for Saturday night's pair of stakes races are scheduled after
Tuesday's sixth race and can be viewed on-line at www.yonkersraceway.com/livevideo/.
Saturday also features the ever-popular freebie...a Yonkers Trot pilsner glass,
to be precise (while supplies last). Giveaway areas are to be located on the
second and fourth floors, along with the track apron.
