Ioya Bigtime pulled off a shocking 41-1 upset in the Stars and Stripes Handicap (gr. III) this afternoon at Arlington Park, holding off a late bid from favored Musketier to win the twelve-furlong marathon by 1 1/2 lengths.
Ridden to victory by Jeffrey Sanchez, Ioya Bigtime settled into the second position during the early stages of the race, about a length behind pace-setting Workin for Hops. Mystic and Free Fighter were right behind them in third and fourth, with a large gap of six lengths separating them from Final Count, with another large gap back to Joinem and Musketier. Suntracer, Harrods Creek, and Eagle Poise were the early trailers.
The early pace actually wasn't all that slow for the distance, with the half-mile going in :49.58, the three-quarters in 1:14.59, and the mile in 1:38.87. The field remained quite strung out during this time, with nearly seventeen lengths separating first from last. The field began to bunch up a bit rounding the far turn, and especially in the homestretch, but by that time, Ioya Bigtime had kicked away from his rivals and opened up a six-length lead. The veteran ten-year-old Musketier put in a tremendous rally in between horses to get up for second, but ran out of ground while falling 1 1/2 lengths short of the winner. The final time was 2:28.44.
Suntracer also closed well to be third, while Joinem, Eagle Poise, Harrods Creek, Mystic, Free Fighter, Final Count, and Workin for Hops completed the order of finish.
The winner is owned by Team Block and trained by Chris Block.
-Keelerman
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