Wide trips have led to some losses for Arklow in the past, but no amount of ground loss could slow the grade 1 winner's return in the $150,000 Louisville Stakes (G3T) in his 7-year-old bow May 15 at Churchill Downs.
The multi-millionaire, who captured the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes (G1T) in 2019 in one of his numerous career highlights, had been unraced since winning the Hollywood Turf Cup (G2T) at Del Mar Nov. 27. Yet, inactivity didn't impact him, either. Rallying from 10th, he launched a five-wide advance on the last of three turns in the 1 1/2-mile Louisville Stakes and powered to a length victory over fellow graded stakes winner Red Knight.
Strong Tide was third, three-quarters of a length behind the runner-up, and a length in front of Ajourneytofreedom in fourth.
Though he made it look easy down the stretch, Arklow had a deficit to make up early, sitting in 10th early under Florent Geroux, as Admiralty Pier shot to the front with splits of :48.64 and 1:14.24 in the marathon turf race. But as the field raced down the backstretch, he began to pick off opponents, and by the time the 14-horse field hit the final turn, Arklow had ranged up into a contending position while moving without encouragement from Geroux.
Taking the lead in early stretch, he maintained a safe advantage down the lane. The Brad Cox trainee raced 1 1/2 miles on a firm turf course in 2:27.13, capped by a final quarter-mile in :23.09. He carried co-high weight of 123 pounds.
"I had him really relaxed and in a good spot early," said Geroux. "With about five furlongs to go he started tugging hard and I had to go. I didn’t necessarily plan moving that early but he was ready to go. Brad and his team did a great job with him to get him ready to go this distance in his first start off the layoff. I’m very thankful to the owners as well for letting me get on him. He’s an incredible horse."
The Louisville Stakes was Arklow's second graded stakes win at Churchill Downs after taking the American Turf Stakes Presented by Ram Trucks (G2T) as a 3-year-old in 2017. Donegal Racing, Joseph Bulger, and the Estate of Peter Coneway own him.
A son of Arch, Arklow ($4.60) has won three of his last four starts since adding blinkers, his only defeat over that stretch being a sixth-place finish in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) at Keeneland Nov. 7. He was also a wide eighth in the Breeder's Cup Turf in 2019 at Santa Anita Park, and fourth in the 2018 race at Churchill Downs.
"He's such a professional," said Cox following the Louisville Stakes. "We had this race in mind for a while to get his campaign started and he ran a great effort to start his year."
Bred in Kentucky by John Penn and Frank Penn out of the Empire Maker mare Unbridled Empire, Arklow was a $160,000 purchase by Donegal Racing from Penn Sales' consignment to the 2015 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He is among five winners from his dam, a group that includes $506,510 earner Maraud (Blame ), winner of the 2018 American Turf.
The dam also has an unnamed 2-year-old Gun Runner colt and a yearling filly by Justify . She was bred to Uncle Mo for 2021.
