The Pucker Up Stakes at Arlington Park, in photos

Pucker Up Stakes (Gr. III) day at Arlington Park lacks the hustle and bustle of Million Day, but as someone that is interested in following turf fillies and mares, the Pucker Up offered a preview of promising candidates in this class.

There was also another preview race of sorts, a maiden special weight for 2-year-olds. It's enjoyable to watch these races in the late summer and fall, and one always hopes to see the beginning of the next good horse.

The first race I was interested in photographing was race 6, an allowance optional claimer.

Rivershire, by Chicago Six

Devil and a Half, by Storm and a Half

Bluedacious, by Bluegrass Cat

Sancerre, Eduardo Perez up, swept wide around the turn...

...and overtook the front-running Bluedacious to win.

Sancerre, Perez up

Race 8 was a maiden special weight for two-year-old colts and geldings.

Son of Dixie, by Dixie Union. He would finish third.

As a fan of Holy Bull and Indian Charlie, I liked Blue Bull, who was by Holy Bull and out of an Indian Charlie mare.

Unfortunately he didn't do as well, finishing next to last!

Cool Cowboy, a son of young sire Kodiak Kowboy, Eduardo Perez up.

Cool Cowboy won drawing away and in near-track record time.

He galloped out well, too. He's one to watch!

Perez shaking the hands of Cool Cowboy's connections.

Two races after Cool Cowboy's runaway victory, it was time for the Pucker Up Stakes. Due to an abundance of entries, the Hatoof had been run in two divisions on Million Day. The winners of each division had entered the Pucker Up, including I'm Already Sexy, a daughter of Ready's Image. 

I'm Already Sexy enters the paddock.

I'm Already Sexy

Although she hadn't raced in either division of the Hatoof, Remember Then (by Pulpit) was one to watch as she was entering the Pucker Up undefeated in three starts.

Phonybooksnrecords, by Tapit, was an eye-catching bay with a large blaze.

I O Ireland was the winner of the second division of the Hatoof. By Giant's Causeway, she is a half-sister to Arlington Park regular Ioya Bigtime.

I O Ireland

Every Way, by City Zip

I'm Already Sexy

Frivolous, by Empire Maker

Miss Scout, by Pleasant Tap

I'm Already Sexy, Florent Geroux up

My Option (by Belong to Me), Eduardo Perez up

Frivolous, Francisco Torres up

Every Way, Emmanuel Esquivel up

I O Ireland, Seth Martinez up

Phonybooksnrecords, Rosemary Homeister up

I'm Already Sexy led wire-to-wire and won easily.

Geroux was all smiles!

The final race of the day was a maiden for Illinois-breds.

Last Nouncer, by Denouncer

J C Fifty, by Dehere

Toews, by Smoke Glacken

Secret Jinn, by Najran

Secret Jinn was a handful for his groom!

Valiant City (by City Zip), Chris Emigh up, wins.

Valiant City and a smiling Emigh in the late afternoon sun.

A railbird at Arlington Park