Albin 3rd in debut

Albin overcame a tough post and a wide trip to run a solid third in his first start today in Arlington's 5th race. Hampered by post 11 and a fairly short run to the turn, Albin broke alertly and put jockey Tim Thornton is a tough position going into the first turn. Forced to ease him back in the turn to avoid being fanned 10 wide, Albin lost some valuable positioning while still being fairly wide in that first turn. He settled nicely behind horses while in seventh down the backstretch. Thornton angled him out going into the turn where he showed a nice turn of foot while three wide , moving into second turning for home with the eventual winner lurking right behind him. He was a little late in switching leads in the stretch which may have cost him a bit of momentum but he ran through the wire and finished up third behind the two favorites. We were hoping for a nice safe trip in his debut and we got that despite the wide trip. Albin should benefit from the experience and get a fitness boost going into his next race which is looking like the same race on the 14th of September at Arlington. This was the first 2 year old start for owner Bob Gary's group of yearlings that he bought last fall and hopefully it is a sign of things to come. Chart of todays race here

E Major and Hackercraft have been entered at Arlington Park for Friday's twilight card. Hackercraft has been entered in the 6th race which is a $5000 nw3 claimer going 1 1/8th on the polytrack with apprentice Inez Karlsson and has been installed at 7-2 on the morning line. E Major is in the 10th race which is a maiden special weight on the turf going about 5 furlongs on the turf. Tim Thornton will ride and E Major drew post position number 3 out of 12 and will run with blinkers on. She is listed at 10-1 on the morning line.