Cubs Fan Arrives in Chicago for 1000 Guineas - 05-21-08

May 21 - Bennie Stutts, a well respected thoroughbred trainer in the North American horse racing scene, arrived in Chicago this week from Florida, hoping to showcase his 3-year-old filly, Cubs Fan, at Saturday's inaugural $200 000 American 1000 Guineas at Arlington Park.

Stutts also brought up-and-coming colt Smooth Air with him, and intends to keep both horses in Arlington for most of the summer, while keeping his other seven horses at his home base in Florida near the Calder Race Course. Smooth Air managed an 11th place finish at the this year's Kentucky Derby.

Cubs Fan won her only grass race by three lengths in Calder last September and has not shown since but, as Stutts is quick to point out, 'she has a lot of talent' and may just put in a good performance at the American 1000 Guineas. However, this is provided that Stutts can get her into the race which has been capped at 14 starters, but has drawn 33 nominations to enter.

The American 1000 Guineas, a one-mile grass race, will take place alongside the Arlington Classic, a grass race for 3-year-old males, and the Hanshin Cup, a one-mile Polytrack race for older horses.

While the 70-year-old trainer will have his hands full this week to enter Cubs Fan into the American 1000 Guineas this weekend, he has plans to transport Smooth Air to Cleveland next week for the high-octane Ohio Derby next Saturday.

An ex-jockey himself and the son of a race horse trainer, Stutts revealed how he has not raced at Arlington since 1969, but has a strong allegiance to the area having ridden his first ever winner here in 1968, which kicked off his career.