Abby Hatcher Springs Upset In Chicago

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL – Abby Hatcher and Alexis Achard rallied out in the middle of the track to run down favorites Club Car and Dreamalildreamofu in Saturday’s Chicago Stakes (G3) at Arlington Park.

Trained by Anna Meah and owned by her husband David Meah, Abby Hatcher covered 7 furlongs on a wet synthetic surface rated fast in 1:22.27. The 4-year-old Irish-bred filly by Acclamation finished a 1/2-length clear of Club Car, the 5/2 second choice, with 11/10 favorite Dreamalildreamofu another 1/2-length back in third in the field of nine fillies and mares.

Abby Hatcher paid $40 to win. The Chicago Stakes was her first added-money victory and third from 9 starts in a career that began in Ireland in 2019. This was her second win from 6 starts in the U.S.

For trainer Meah, the Chicago Stakes was a breakthrough triumph as well. This was her 30th overall victory and first in a graded stakes since she took out her trainer’s license in 2018. It also marked the first North American graded stakes win for jockey Achard, a native of France who began riding in the U.S. in 2018. Achard is currently based at Indiana Grand.

She Can’t Sing set the early fractions, going the opening 1/4-mile in :23.39 and the 1/2 in :45.93. Club Car took over at the furlong grounds, the 6 furlongs clocked in 1:09.66, with Dreamalildreamofu applying pressure. But Achard had all the momentum aboard Abby Hatcher and moved to the lead in the final yards.