Royal Posh crowned in Isaac Murphy

Doubledown Stables' multiple stakes-winning 3-year-old and reigning Illinois-bred champion 2-year-old colt Recount showed his class and defeated older horses for the first time in the $54,100 Addison Cammack Handicap Saturday afternoon at Arlington International Racecourse. After breaking well from the rail in the eight-horse field, Recount settled well in second behind Rivzinthehouse before sweeping to the front turning for home. In the end, the son of Limehouse held off stablemate Jazzy Sun and two-time defending Cammack winner Sweet Luca to win by a half-length for trainer Jimmy DiVito.

Ridden by Manny Esquivel, the Illinois-bred traveled the six-furlong Polytrack distance in 1:10.77 after stalking earlier fractions of 22.06 and :45.14. Sent off as the 1.70-1 favorite, Recount returned $5.40, $4 and $2.60, earning $31,486 to boost his career bankroll to $193,741. The Cammack was his third career stakes win in six starts.

"I was where I wanted to be and at the three-eighths I pushed my horse and he went on and I knew he was a fighter," Esquivel said. "When he felt the horses coming, he picked it up again."

Kathy Halleran's Jazzy Sun returned $16 and $7 under Edgar Perez, while Fortino Inc.'s Chris Block-trained Sweet Luca returned $3.20 in his failed three-peat bid.

Creative Art, Reigning Catfish, He'saruler, Rivzinthehouse and Rocket Professor completed the order of finish.

Earlier in the card, it was the girls' turn to run six-furlongs in handicap stakes company, and Larry Owens' 7-year-old mare Royal Posh took the $52,700 Isaac Murphy Handicap. Stalking heavily favored Richies Sweetheart throughout, the daughter of Posh took over in midstretch and held off Dolly Peach by three-quarters of a length for trainer Steve Manley.

Ridden by Santo Sanjur, the Prairie State-bred completed the trip in 1:12.80 after earlier fractions of 22.88 and 45.65. Sent off at 7.30-1, Royal Posh won her second stakes in her last five starts and earned $31,620 to improve her career bankroll to $327,938. The win was her 12th in 48 lifetime starts.

"The other horse was the speed and we were in a good spot and my horse was better," Sanjur concisely stated afterward.

Montalvo wins 1000th:

Jockey Carlos Montalvo recorded his 1,000th career victory on Saturday at Arlington International Racecourse. The 36-year-old native of Mexico City, Mexico, won aboard trainer Jere R. Smith Jr.'s Oh My Todd in the first race of the day.

"You know, a few months ago when I realized I was getting close, it felt nice," Montalvo said. "It's harder to get wins these days when tracks don't race five days like they used to. I've gotten close a few times in the last week, and it's nice to get it done today."

Montalvo started riding in 1998 and began his career in his hometown of Mexico City. He notched his first career win aboard Irun at Hipodromo de las Americas in his native city.

Gabriel Charles confirmed for Arlington Million:

Sam Britt and Michael House's Grade I-winning Gabriel Charles will take his sharp recent form and head to the Grade I $1,000,000 Arlington Million on Aug. 15, according to trainer Jeff Mullins. The son of Street Hero exits the best race of his career when winning the Grade I $400,000 Eddie Read Stakes at Del Mar by an authoritative 3¾ lengths on July 18. Left in his wake that day was, appropriately, Grade I winner Finnegans Wake, as well as the talented and improving Twentytwentyvision.

Delzangels adds Bookrunner to million mix:

Racing officials at Arlington International Racecourse and the International Racing Bureau have confirmed that Papillon Stables' Bookrunner will be aimed for the 33rd running of the Grade I $1,000,000 Arlington Million on Aug. 15. Trained by Mikel Delzangles, the son of Tiznow will be making a homecoming to his country of birth following a third-place finish in the Group III $89,000 Prix Messidor at Maisons-Laffitte on July 5.

Pirate's Trove tops Work Tab:

Al Shahania Racing's multiple stakes winner Pirate's Trove signaled her readiness for her 4-year-old debut when zipping a bullet half-mile in :46 flat Saturday morning for trainer Mike Stidham.