Dullahan back for Arlington Handicap

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Arlington Heights, IL (Sports Network) - Pacific Classic winner Dullahan makes his first start in the United States this year on Saturday in the $200,000 Arlington Handicap at Arlington Park. The 4-year-old colt will take on seven rivals in the 1 1/4-mile turf event.

Trained by Dale Romans, Dullahan returns to competition following two 11th- place finishes in Dubai. The Donegal Racing colt has not started in America since finishing ninth last November in the Breeders' Cup Turf.

For Saturday, Dullahan has drawn post 2 with Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux in the saddle. Desormeaux has not been aboard the colt since they finished fifth in last year's Haskell Invitational.

Dullahan has earned more than $1.7 million in 16 races with three wins. Romans has stated that the colt is using the Arlington Handicap as a prep race for a defense of his Pacific Classic crown.

Defending Arlington Handicap champion Rahystrada is back for the race and will break from post 6 with Rosie Napravnik in the saddle. The 9-year-old chestnut gelding will be going after his third win in the race, having also won in 2010.

Owned by Robert E. Courtney Jr. and trained by Byron Hughes, Rahystrada is coming off a fourth in the Monmouth Stakes on June 9. He will be seeking his first win since last year's Arlington Handicap.

The gelding has banked more than $1.2 million in 43 starts and 13 wins.

Here is the full field in post position order: Keep Up, James Graham; Dullahan, Kent Desormeaux; Najjaar, Leandro Goncalves; Suntracer, Eddie Perez; Beer Garden, Julien Leparoux; Rahystrada, Rosie Napravnik; Coalport, Channing Hill and Temeraine, Eddie Castro.

Post-time for the Arlington Handicap is scheduled for 6:25 p.m. (ET).