The graded turf stakes on the Arlington Million day card kicked off with a win by a familiar name, trainer Chad Brown taking the Grade 3 Pucker Up Stakes. At Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Ill., Shantisara with Flavien Prat waited for an opening on the final turn and moved his three-year-old filly into the clear with ease to win by three and a half lengths.
Breaking from the third post, Prat put Shantisara in the middle of the field, content to hang back in fifth as Spritz sprinted out to a one-length lead over Oyster Bay. James Graham and Spritz set a measured pace, running the first quarter in :24.83 and the first half in :49.52 while Luis Saez kept Oyster Bay close to the leader throughout the 1 1/8-mile race. The field stayed fairly close together until the final turn, when Saez put Oyster Bay to a drive as they entered the stretch.
With Spritz tiring on the rail and Oyster Bay vying for the lead, Prat took Shantisara three-wide on the turn, finding a clear path toward the middle of the track. Shantisara took advantage of the daylight and sprinted for the lead, easily passing Oyster Bay as they approached the wire. Oyster Bay and Flown rounding out the top three, followed by Time for Glory, Double Blessed, Spritz, and Shesa Mystery.
The final time for the 1 1/8 miles was 1:51.91. Find this race's chart here.
Shantisara paid $5.60, $3.40, and $2.40. Oyster Bay paid $3.40 and $2.40. Flown paid $2.40.
Bred in Ireland by Oliver Donlon, Shantisara is by Coulsty out of the Dalakhani mare Kharana. Owned by Michael Dubb, Robert La Penta, and Madaket Stables, she was consigned by Aguiar Bloodstock at the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up Sale and sold to Federico Barberini, agent, for $13,171. Her win in the G3 Pucker Up is her first win in two starts in the United States, after winning twice in France in 2020. With a record of three wins in seven lifetime starts, Shantisara has career earnings of $113,108.
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