Hawkster Remains Undefeated in Three Grass Races

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. —  After winning only two of 13 starts on the dirt, Hawkster has won three straight on grass, the latest victory by a head-bobbing nose over Chenin Blanc in Monday’s $250,000 Secretariat Stakes for 3-year-olds at Arlington International Racecourse.

Favored Hawkster, ridden by Pat Valenzuela, had to survive a foul claim by Craig Perret, riding Chenin Blanc, a 16-1 longshot. The horses brushed several times in the long stretch drive.

Ninety Years Young finished third, 3 1/2 lengths behind Hawkster, and after the race his jockey, Randy Romero, was criticized by trainer John Veitch for having the colt in poor position early. Ebros was fourth, followed by Esker Island, Prince Randi, Shy Tom and Launch a Ruler, with Orange Sunshine being scratched.

Hawkster carried 123 pounds, high weight in the field and nine pounds more than Chenin Blanc. He paid $3.40 to win, earning $150,000 for his owner, Shelly Meredith of Del Mar. The time for 1 1/4 miles was 2:04, two-fifths of a second slower than Steinlen’s slow winning time in Sunday’s Arlington Million, but the Secretariat was run over a course that was firmer.

Meredith said after the race that Hawkster will head back to California and a trip to Gulfstream Park for the Breeders’ Cup on Nov. 4 is not in the plans. “We don’t want to run against 4-year-olds yet,” Meredith said. “We will shoot for the Breeders’ Cup next year.”

Hawkster raced in second place, not far behind Esker Island, and made the lead on the far turn. Chenin Blanc was in third all the way and moved up on the outside at the same time Hawkster did. Chenin Blanc moved slightly ahead of Hawkster for a few jumps near the sixteenth pole before Hawkster regained the lead.

“The horses were leaning on each other and the other horse came out,” Perret said. “If we had lost by a length, I wouldn’t have said anything, but since it was so close I had to find out what the stewards thought.”

Horse Racing Notes

The other stake at Arlington Monday was also decided by a nose, with Delegant nipping Broadway Tommy in the $50,000 Summer Tan Handicap. Delegant, winless in five starts since winning the Santa Gertrudes Handicap at Santa Anita in April, is trained by Michael Whittingham, Charlie’s son, and was ridden by Earlie Fires. The 5-year-old gray, carrying 118 pounds, paid $9.20, running 1 1/2 miles on grass in 2:32 2/5.

Queen Elizabeth II’s Unknown Quantity II was the 7-10 favorite and finished sixth.

Steinlen, winner of the Arlington Million on Sunday, will be shipped today to the barn of trainer Wayne Lukas at Belmont Park. Plans for the 6-year-old are indefinite, but the options include two Breeders’ Cup grass races, either the Mile or the 1 1/2-mile Turf Stakes. . . . Jorge Velasquez, riding tiring Frosty the Snowman in the Million, moved off the rail to give Steinlen and Jose Santos room to move through. “I didn’t have any choice,” Velasquez said. “The last eighth of a mile, my horse started getting tired. He started drifting and that made room inside for the other horse to get by.”