Prairie State Festival quite a day at Arlington

A half-hour rain delay to start the day, heavy favorites rolling, heavy favorites fizzling. Longshots, front-runners, stone-cold closers, you name it, and Saturday’s Prairie State Festival at Arlington Park had it.

White Oak Handicap:The first race on the Festival card provided the biggest surprise of the day as 4-5 favorite River Bear broke last out of the gate and ended up finishing fifth in the six-horse field.The winner was 8-1 shot Capt. Bullet Bob with Tim Thornton aboard, grabbing the lead in the stretch and holding on for a neck victory over a hard-charging Four Left Feet (9-1).The quote: #147;He just can#146;t handle this Polytrack. On the dirt he#146;s 10 times better. On this #133; no response at all.#148;#151; jockey Danish Sukie (River Bear)Springfield Stakes:The longshots just kept a comin#146; as Sandia Crest (20-1) with James Graham aboard, went from last to first to edge Sweet Luca (6-1) late and key a $2 exacta payout of $260.The quote: #147;When I asked him to go, he went, and it was over.#148;#151; winning jockey James GrahamIsaac Murphy Handicap:Third Chance gave the field absolutely no chance in this one, taking the lead midway through and then cruising to a 6frac12;-length victory, her second in two starts this year and her eighth in 17 career races.Third Chance paid $3.40 to win. Algonquin Road (8-1) came on late for second.The quote: #147;She makes everybody#146;s job easier. She comes up, gets up and then gets her picture taken.#148;#151; winning jockey Francisco TorresPurple Violet Stakes:In a race filled with plenty of pace, La Tia, with Constantino Roman aboard, got to the front and stayed there en route to a dominant 8frac14;-length victory over Dolly Peach and 26-1 longshot Wonder Country.The quote: #147;She got the lead with all those sprinters in there, but that worked out good.#148;#151; winning trainer Brian WilliamsonLincoln Heritage Handicap:James Graham picked up his second Festival win by guiding favorite Cumulonimble to a 3-length victory over Pathway (20-1) and front-runner Katie the Lady (3-1), who finished in a dead heat for second.The quote: #147;My filly sat real well, and when I pulled the trigger, she went.#148;#151; winning jockey James GrahamBlack Tie Affair:E.T. Baird took Mr. Mischief (5-1) right to the lead and never looked back in holding off Suntracer and Forbidden Forest (13-1) to capture the Festival finale.The quote: #147;He runs really competitive races. (Trainer) Tony Granitz always lets me ride him, and I#146;ve always gotten along with him well.#148; #151; winning jockey E.T. Baird