Hernandez Racing Club’s multiple Illinois-bred champion La Tia is hoping to make her 2014 debut on opening weekend at Arlington International Racecourse. The daughter of City Place is to be entered by conditioner Armando De La Cerda in an allowance optional claiming event carded on Sunday, May 4 over 1 1/16-miles on the Arlington Polytrack.
In 2013, the dark bay filly won two of her four races at the Arlington Heights oval – all on grass – including the Lincoln Heritage Handicap en route to being crowned both Champion Older Handicap Female and Female Turf Horse in Illinois. Additionally, she finished a strong third in the Grade III Modesty Handicap and a good fifth – missing third in a three-horse photo – in the Grade I Beverly D. After a subpar third in a restricted stakes in October, De La Cerda gave the filly some time off for the winter.
“She spent a couple months on the farm, but she really didn’t really like it. She came back a little skinny. Some horses don’t like it away from the track,” De La Cerda reported. “But, I got her back and jogged her nice and slow for a month and have worked her a few times. She’s nice and happy, now. She went six furlongs last week in 1:13.”
La Tia may also find happiness in a return to Arlington’s synthetic main course. In 2012, she raced over Polytrack five times – four times at Arlington – winning three stakes, including the Grade III Arlington Oaks at nine furlongs. “She loves the Poly just as much as the turf; I think she’ll run good,” her conditioner concluded. If all goes well, De La Cerda may consider the Grade III Arlington Matron at the same course and distance as her Oaks win on May 24.
Get updates from The Cardinal ALL NEWS FEEDS on Facebook. Just ‘LIKE’ the ‘Arlington Cardinal Page (become a fan of our page). The updates cover all posts and sub-category posts from The Cardinal — Arlingtoncardinal.com. You can also limit feeds to specific categories. See all of The Cardinal Facebook fan pages at Arlingtoncardinal.com/about/facebook …