Estilo Talentoso brings Arriagada back to Keeneland

Juan Arriagada has walked to the horse path to Keeneland’s main track before – just not recently.

“I was here in 2005 with (trainer) John Ward for a few weeks,” Arriagada said. “To come back here now is like a dream.”

What brings Arriagada back to Keeneland is the star of his 17-horse stable, Estilo Talentoso, who will make her Grade 1 debut in Saturday’s $300,000 Madison going 7 furlongs on the main track.

Given time off following a victory in the Escena at Gulfstream in August, Estilo Talentoso finished third in the Wayward Lass at Tampa Bay. In her first venture outside of Florida, she ran second at 18-1 in the Runhappy Barbara Fritchie (G3) at Laurel on Feb. 20.

Purchased for $15,000 as a 2-year-old, Estilo Talentoso visited the starting gate Friday morning and then galloped under Arriagada.

“I like to go to the gate with all my horses,” Arriagada said. “It gets them to relax in the gate and they run much better.”

In a seven-horse field loaded with stakes winners, Arriagada knows the Madison represents the biggest challenge to date for his filly, a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Maclean’s Music.

“She is doing better than she ever has,” Arriagada said. “Her last two works at Tampa were both bullets. I don’t know if she will win, but if she runs well we will go back home happy.”