2015 Arlington International Festival of Racing Workouts

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Up with the Birds is frisky on Friday at Arlington

Thursday at Arlington

Friday Arlington International Festival of Racing Workouts

Date: 08/14/2015

The Arlington Million (G1), the world's first million-dollar race, celebrates its 33rd renewal on Saturday with a field of 13 older horses going 1 1/4 miles over the turf course at Arlington International Racecourse in the Chicago suburbs. Two more Grade 1 turf events are on the undercard, the $700,000 Beverly D Stakes (G1) for older fillies and mares going 1 3/16 miles, and the $450,000 Secretariat Stakes (G1) for 3-year-olds at 1 1/4 miles. Kicking off the International Festival quartet is the $350,000 American St. Leger Stakes (G3) at a marathon distance of 1 11/16 miles around 3 turns of the course. Friday training hours were warmer than Thursday, with temperatures near 80 and a few clouds rolling in with a threat of rain in the afternoon.

Check out photos for 18 of the contenders below. Click on the small photo to see a larger version.

Alpha Kitalpha will break from post 10 in the American St. Leger Stakes. Jockey E.T. Baird gets the call aboard the 30-1 outsider for trainer Wayne Catalano.

Bookrunner comes to the Arlington Million off a 3rd place finish in the Prix Messidor (G3) at Maisons-Laffitte. Gerald Mosse gets the call for trainer Mikel Delzangles, and will break from post 3 aboard the 15-1 shot. “He’s doing okay,” reported head lad and exercise rider Eric Camus, who represents trainer Mikel Delzangles this week. “I think he’s a good horse. I think he can handle the distance on an American course, but maybe not in Europe. He’s very relaxed and a little lazy, but that’s him.”

Closing Bell drew the rail in the Secretariat Stakes. Regular rider Jose Lezcano gets the call for trainer Bill Mott and owner WinStar Farm aboard the 10-1 shot.

Euro Charline is the 5-2 morning line favorite and defending champion in the Beverly D. Lucie Botti, assistant to husband and trainer Marco said, "She's done well from three to four, as we expected. Her preparation went smoothly. She has moved forward from her race at Newmarket, as we expected her to, and she is ready to run. I haven't looked too much at the field. I think Secret Gesture and Wedding Vow will be ready and have a good chance. Secret Gesture seems like the one to beat."

Force The Pass comes to the Secretariat Stakes off his win in the Belmont Derby (G1). Trainer Alan Goldberg said, “He does everything right. Right now he's doing the same as he's always done. He's a good work horse and excellent on the racetrack. You're always worried if he can get the distance, but he has a big, nice, long stride and has the mind for it." Regular rider Jose Lezcano gets the call aboard the 2-1 morning line favorite out of post 2.

Goldstream comes to Arlington perfect in five starts for Jamie Lovett's Australian Bloodstock including the Italian Derby last out. Brenton Avdulla rides from post three in the Secretariat Stakes for trainer Andreas Wohler aboard the 9-2 fourth choice.

Highball, stablemate of Alpha Kitalpha, drew post 11 in the American St. Leger Stakes for trainer Wayne Catalano. Jose Valdivia will be the irons aboard the 15-1 shot.

Lacy must overcome a poor showing last out in in the Group 3 $87,000 Prix Allez France at Chantilly for trainer Waldemar Hickst and owner Gestut Fahrhof. She breaks from the rail in the Beverly D under Eduardo Pedroza at morning-line odds of 20-1.

Legendary comes to the Arlington Million off a third place finish in the Manhattan at Belmont. Sheldon Russell returns to the saddle after recovering from injury and will break from post six at morning-line odds of 15-1 for trainer Niall Saville and owner Walter Swinburn.

Lucky Speed drew post 3 in the American St. Leger Stakes. Jockey Andrasch Starke gets the call for trainer Peter Schiergen. Assistant trainer Ilke Hildebrand said, “He’s already had four weeks in Canada and we vanned down 12 hours from Woodbine. The plan is to go back to Canada for the Northern Dancer Stakes and Canadian International after this.”

Maid on a Mission is a 30-1 outsider in the Beverly D. Owned by Loooch Racing Stable and trained by Peter Walder, she breaks from post seven under Kent Desormeaux.

Mango Diva was a close second in the local prep for the Beverly D, the Modesty Handicap (G3) at Arlington. Regular rider Florent Geroux rides Mango Diva from post five at morning-line odds of 15-1 for trainer Michael Matz.

Panama Hat comes to the American St. Leger Stakes off a win in the Lenebane Stakes at Roscommon. Jockey Chris Hayes will be aboard the Andy Oliver trainee, breaking from the rail at 10-1. Owner Barry Irwin said, “Last time the jockey had to ride him every step of the way. He reluctantly obliged the win. That day he had blinkers on and I don’t think he liked them, so we will put the cheek pieces back on, instead. I like this race because of the distance for him. If he runs his race, he’ll be right there. Is the real Panama Hat going to show up – that’s the question.”

Secret Gesture comes to the Beverly D off a 4th place finish in the Pretty Polly Stakes (G1) for trainer Ralph Beckett at the Curragh. Jockey Jamie Spencer gets the call from post 10 on the three-time Group I-placed daughter of the great Galileo whose morning line is set at 9-2.

Triple Threat drew post 10 for trainer Bill Mott in the Arlington Million. Regular rider Jose Lezcano gets the call aboard the 6-1 shot for owners Team Valor and Gary Barber.

Up With The Birds returns to the Arlington Million after finishing 4th last year. Canada's 2013 Horse of the Year drew the rail for trainer Graham Motion as as 12-1 longshot on the board. New rider Drayden Van Dyke gets the call.

Wake Forest exits a fine triumph in the Group III $61,000 Hamburg Trophy over the Arlington Million's distance for his Arlington Million-winning conditioner Andreas Wohler. Regular rider Eduardo Pedroza will be in the irons aboard the 12-1 shot, out of post 5.

War Dispatch has only raced in France, winning the Group III Prix de Guiche three starts back before consecutive placings in the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) and Prix Eugene Adam. Ioritz Mendizabal rides for trainer Jean-Claude Rouget from post seven in the Secretariat Stakes.

Also check out the Thursday morning works at Arlington

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Alpha Kitalpha will break from post 10 in the American St. Leger Stakes. Jockey E.T. Baird gets the call aboard the 30-1 outsider for trainer Wayne Catalano.
Bookrunner comes to the Arlington Million off a 3rd place finish in the Prix Messidor (G3) at Maisons-Laffitte. Gerald Mosse gets the call for trainer Mikel Delzangles, and will break from post 3 aboard the 15-1 shot. “He’s doing okay,” reported head lad and exercise rider Eric Camus, who represents trainer Mikel Delzangles this week. “I think he’s a good horse. I think he can handle the distance on an American course, but maybe not in Europe. He’s very relaxed and a little lazy, but that’s him.”
Closing Bell drew the rail in the Secretariat Stakes. Regular rider Jose Lezcano gets the call for trainer Bill Mott and owner WinStar Farm aboard the 10-1 shot.
Euro Charline is the 5-2 morning line favorite and defending champion in the Beverly D. Lucie Botti, assistant to husband and trainer Marco said, "She's done well from three to four, as we expected. Her preparation went smoothly. She has moved forward from her race at Newmarket, as we expected her to, and she is ready to run. I haven't looked too much at the field. I think Secret Gesture and Wedding Vow will be ready and have a good chance. Secret Gesture seems like the one to beat."
Force The Pass comes to the Secretariat Stakes off his win in the Belmont Derby (G1). Trainer Alan Goldberg said, “He does everything right. Right now he's doing the same as he's always done. He's a good work horse and excellent on the racetrack. You're always worried if he can get the distance, but he has a big, nice, long stride and has the mind for it." Regular rider Jose Lezcano gets the call aboard the 2-1 morning line favorite out of post 2.
Goldstream comes to Arlington perfect in five starts for Jamie Lovett's Australian Bloodstock including the Italian Derby last out. Brenton Avdulla rides from post three in the Secretariat Stakes for trainer Andreas Wohler aboard the 9-2 fourth choice.
Highball, stablemate of Alpha Kitalpha, drew post 11 in the American St. Leger Stakes for trainer Wayne Catalano. Jose Valdivia will be the irons aboard the 15-1 shot.
Lacy must overcome a poor showing last out in in the Group 3 $87,000 Prix Allez France at Chantilly for trainer Waldemar Hickst and owner Gestut Fahrhof. She breaks from the rail in the Beverly D under Eduardo Pedroza at morning-line odds of 20-1.
Legendary comes to the Arlington Million off a third place finish in the Manhattan at Belmont. Sheldon Russell returns to the saddle after recovering from injury and will break from post six at morning-line odds of 15-1 for trainer Niall Saville and owner Walter Swinburn.
Lucky Speed drew post 3 in the American St. Leger Stakes. Jockey Andrasch Starke gets the call for trainer Peter Schiergen. Assistant trainer Ilke Hildebrand said, “He’s already had four weeks in Canada and we vanned down 12 hours from Woodbine. The plan is to go back to Canada for the Northern Dancer Stakes and Canadian International after this.”
Maid on a Mission is a 30-1 outsider in the Beverly D. Owned by Loooch Racing Stable and trained by Peter Walder, she breaks from post seven under Kent Desormeaux.
Mango Diva was a close second in the local prep for the Beverly D, the Modesty Handicap (G3) at Arlington. Regular rider Florent Geroux rides Mango Diva from post five at morning-line odds of 15-1 for trainer Michael Matz.
Panama Hat comes to the American St. Leger Stakes off a win in the Lenebane Stakes at Roscommon. Jockey Chris Hayes will be aboard the Andy Oliver trainee, breaking from the rail at 10-1. Owner Barry Irwin said, “Last time the jockey had to ride him every step of the way. He reluctantly obliged the win. That day he had blinkers on and I don’t think he liked them, so we will put the cheek pieces back on, instead. I like this race because of the distance for him. If he runs his race, he’ll be right there. Is the real Panama Hat going to show up – that’s the question.”
Secret Gesture comes to the Beverly D off a 4th place finish in the Pretty Polly Stakes (G1) for trainer Ralph Beckett at the Curragh. Jockey Jamie Spencer gets the call from post 10 on the three-time Group I-placed daughter of the great Galileo whose morning line is set at 9-2.
Triple Threat drew post 10 for trainer Bill Mott in the Arlington Million. Regular rider Jose Lezcano gets the call aboard the 6-1 shot for owners Team Valor and Gary Barber.
Up With The Birds returns to the Arlington Million after finishing 4th last year. Canada's 2013 Horse of the Year drew the rail for trainer Graham Motion as as 12-1 longshot on the board. New rider Drayden Van Dyke gets the call.
Wake Forest exits a fine triumph in the Group III $61,000 Hamburg Trophy over the Arlington Million's distance for his Arlington Million-winning conditioner Andreas Wohler. Regular rider Eduardo Pedroza will be in the irons aboard the 12-1 shot, out of post 5.
War Dispatch has only raced in France, winning the Group III Prix de Guiche three starts back before consecutive placings in the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) and Prix Eugene Adam. Ioritz Mendizabal rides for trainer Jean-Claude Rouget from post seven in the Secretariat Stakes.