2018 Arlington International Festival of Racing Workouts

Latest Articles
Year in Review
Santa Anita opening day
HK Cup Entries
Hong Kong Cup works
Hollywood Derby Day

Trainer Aidan O'Brien's leaving the track on Thursday morning at Arlington

2018 Arlington International Festival of Racing Workouts

Date: 08/10/2018

The Arlington Million (G1), the world's first million-dollar race, celebrates its 36th renewal on Saturday with a field of 11 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 $600,000 Beverly D Stakes (G1) for older fillies and mares going 1 3/16 miles, and the $400,000 Secretariat Stakes (G1) for 3-year-olds at 1 1/4 miles. Unfortunately, the $300,000 American St. Leger (G3), a 1 11/16 mile marathon for older horses, was dropped from the stakes schedule this year after just 6 runnings. Training hours on both Thursday and Friday were conducted under sunny skies with temperatures in the high 70's.

Check out photos for 32 photos of the contenders from Thursday and Friday morning below. Click on the small photo to see a larger version.

Almanaar (Million) a 6-year-old gelded son of Dubawi, joined Brown's stable in 2016 following a pair of Group 3 victories in France. He returned from a lengthy spell in June to fire off a win on the Belmont turf over graded stakes winner Ticonderoga. Joel Rosario will ride from post three.

Circus Couture (Million) will be making his fourth start for conditioner Jane Chapple-Hyam, who has owned the 6-year-old son of Intikhab since February in partnership with Bryan Hirst. A nine-time winner in Italy for trainer Marco Botti, Circus Couture has hit the board in six of his seven career starts at the mile-and-a-quarter distance. Jockey John Egan will navigate the Irish-bred from the rail over the Chicagoland oval.

Deauville (Million) left the quarantine barn at 7:15 Thursday with his Ballydoyle stablemates, walking several laps of the paddock before walking he main track the wrong way one lap, and then cantered a lap (1 1/8 miles). Pat Keating, assistant to trainer Aidan O'Brien said, "They all looked very well. They travelled well and were in good form. We're happy with all of them". Deauville will be looking to make his third Million attempt a winning one after back-to-back third place efforts.

Money Multiplier (Million) comes here off a close second to stable mate Funtastic in the United Nations (G1) at Monmouth. Dean Lavy, racing manager for owner Al Shahania Stud said, "He is obviously a very good older horse. He was very competitive and he had run in Grade I's and Grade II's for the last couple years. Initially he was bought with the idea of bringing him to Doha, which we did, but we wanted to leave him in the States where he's more comfortable. He's very consistent, but this year he seems to be better than he's ever been." After the Million he may go next in the Breeders' Cup Turf. John Velazquez gets the call from post 8.

Oscar Performance (Million) victorious in last season's Grade I Secretariat, will star from stage right when they break from the gate on Saturday, Aug. 11. The winner of the Arlington Million, a "Win and You're In" event, will receive an automatic berth into the Grade I $4,000,000 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf at Churchill Downs on Nov. 3. Trained by Brian Lynch, the multiple graded stakes-winning son of Kitten's Joy will look to become just the fifth horse to complete the Secretariat-Million double. A three-time Grade I winner over the grass, Oscar Performance tops the Million field in career earnings with $1,967,632. The 4-year-old colt will break from post 11 under Jose Ortiz.

Robert Bruce (Million) was undefeated until a troubled trip in the Grade I Manhattan Handicap cost the 4-year-old son of Fast Company (IRE) a placing and a perfect record. A four-time group winner in his native country, he captured the Grade III Fort Marcy Stakes at Belmont Park in his North American debut on May 5 over fellow Million contender Spring Quality. Irad Ortiz, Jr. will pilot the Chilean-bred colt from gate ten.

Twenty Four Seven (Million), of the same local connections as The Pizza Man (below), was restless in the paddock prior to his sixth-place finish in the Grade III Arlington Handicap last out but finished just two lengths behind winner Divisidero. Local rider Chris Emigh will be aboard as the duo break from post seven.

Athena (Beverly D) left the quarantine barn at 7:15 Thursday with her Ballydoyle stablemates, walking several laps of the paddock before walking he main track the wrong way one lap, and then cantered a lap (1 1/8 miles). Pat Keating, assistant to trainer Aidan O'Brien said, "They all looked very well. They travelled well and were in good form. We're happy with all of them". She comes here off of a decisive victory in the Grade I Belmont Oaks Invitational on July 7.

Dona Bruja (Beverly D) finished in a dead-heat for second when beaten a half-length by Dacita in last year's Beverly D. and seeks redemption when breaking from post four under current Arlington leading rider Jose Valdivia, Jr. Trained by Ignacio Correas, IV she began her racing career in her native Argentina where she won the Group 1 Copa de Plata-Roberto Vasquez Mansilla-Internaciona at San Isidro in December 2016. This was her last start before joining Correas' barn in the United States. In her American debut, the 6-year-old daughter of Storm Embrujado (ARG) won the Grade III Old Forester Mint Julep Stakes at Churchill Downs then shipped to Arlington to take the Grade III Modesty Handicap. This season, she boasts a four-length victory in the Grade III Endeavor Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on February 10.

Fourstar Crook (Beverly D) is in search of her first Grade I win. Last season, she went on an eight-race winning streak which included her first graded victory in the Grade III Dr. James Penny Memorial Stakes as well as three-stakes wins against her New York-bred counterparts. The talented bay continues to impress in her 6-year-old campaign with a pair of Grade II victories in the Hillsborough Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs and the New York Handicap under the guidance of pilot Irad Ortiz, Jr. who has the call in the Beverly D. She will emerge from post seven and will look to become the first New York-bred to win the Beverly D.

Inflexibility (Beverly D) has yet to win a graded stakes race but has secured a pair of stakes wins against fellow Ontario-breds over the lawn at Woodbine Racetrack in last year's Wonder Where Stakes, third leg of Canada's filly Triple Tiara, and the Carotene Stakes. In her last effort, Inflexibility set an easy pace in the Grade II Dance Smartly at Woodbine Racetrack but could not hold off stablemate Santa Monica (GB). A victory in the Beverly D. would make her the first Ontario-bred to win the event since Dancing On a Cloud won the 1987 edition. Joel Rosario is named to ride from post eight.

Nyaleti (Beverly D) is owned by Chris, Rosie and Rob Batterham in partnership with Jen Reay and in search of her first Grade I victory. The 3-year-old daughter of Arch won the Group 2 German 1,000 Guineas over the tight, undulating course at Dusseldorf on May 27 by 4� lengths when going a mile. Last time out, the Mark Johnston trainee was fourth in the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket behind Alpha Centauri (IRE). As a juvenile, she captured the Group 3 Princess Margaret Juddmonte Stakes. Nyaleti will be piloted by Silvestre de Sousa from gate two in her North American debut.�

Oh So Terrible (Beverly D) is the only Beverly D. contender with multiple wins over the surface. Trained by locally-based Bradley Ross, the 4-year-old filly has not won since defeating winners last September, but what she lacks in recent form she makes up for with a solid pedigree. By 2011 Arlington Million winner Cape Blanco (GB), she is out of two-time Argentinian champion Miss Terrible (ARG), who won two Grade III races when racing in the United States with conditioner Bradley Ross. Ross will look to capture his first Grade I with the daughter of the Argentinian champion. She will break from post six under veteran rider Sophie Doyle.

Sistercharlie (Beverly D) began her career in France where she was a Group 3 winner and finished second in the Group 1 Prix de Diane (French Oaks). The 4-year-old daughter of Myboycharlie (IRE) will be ridden by Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, who has guided Sistercharlie in all four of her North American starts, including wins in the Jenny Wiley (G1) and Diana (G1).

Thais (Beverly D) a 4-year-old filly from the first crop of Rio de la Plata, began racing in her native France, where she won the Prix des Lilas at Maisons-Laffitte last June. Since arriving to the United States, the Brown trainee has been stakes placed twice and won her first race in America when coming off of a six-month layoff in an allowance optional claiming event over the Belmont Park turf. Owned by Allen Stable and Peter Brant, she boasts a consistent lifetime record of 12-3-3-3. Thais will be piloted by Florent Geroux from gate five.

Analyze It (Secretariat) son of Point of Entry has only lost twice in his five-race career, both of which were hard fought efforts behind Catholic Boy in the Grade III Pennine Ridge Stakes and the Grade I Belmont Derby Invitational. Analyze It dazzled in his first three career starts, which include a 6�-length maiden special weight win at Belmont Park last October and wins in the Cecil B. DeMille at Del Mar and the Transylvania Stakes at Keeneland � both Grade III events. He will break from the nine hole under jockey Jose Ortiz.

Bandua (Secretariat) won his first two career outings, both at the Secretariat's 1�-mile distance. He stretched out even further for his next two starts � an eighth-place finish in the Group 1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby prior to being beaten only 1� lengths when running fifth in the Kingdom Of Bahrain Vinnie Roe Stakes on July 26. He breaks from post three and will be ridden by William Buick, who seeks his first Secretariat triumph.

Captivating Moon (Secretariat) breaks from post seven. The son of Malibu Moon has hit the board in nine of his ten career starts, which includes runner-up finishes in the Grade III American Derby at Arlington on July 7, the Grade II American Turf Stakes on May 5, and the Grade III Transylvania Stakes at Keeneland on April 6. He owns a career debut win at Arlington last summer and an allowance win over the turf at Tampa Bay Downs on February 11. Captivating Moon will be ridden by Florent Geroux, who has taken the mount in four of the colt's last five starts.

Carrick (Secretariat) a Donegal Racing owned son of Giant's Causeway who was third in the Delaware Park stakes event for trainer Tom Morley. Named after the Anglicized version of the Gaelic word for "rock", he broke his maiden for a $40,000 tag at Belmont Park on May 12 before winning a starter allowance race at the Elmont oval where he defeated next out winners Sentry and Not in Charge. He will be Morley's first starter at Arlington and will look to give his owners their second Secretariat victory after scoring with Paddy O'Prado in 2010.

Hunting Horn (Secretariat) left the quarantine barn at 7:15 Thursday with his Ballydoyle stablemates, walking several laps of the paddock before walking he main track the wrong way one lap, and then cantered a lap (1 1/8 miles). Pat Keating, assistant to trainer Aidan O'Brien said, "They all looked very well. They travelled well and were in good form. We're happy with all of them". He last raced when finishing third beaten 1� lengths in the Grade I Belmont Derby Invitational on July 7.

Lucius Tiberius (Secretariat) left the quarantine barn at 7:15 Thursday with his Ballydoyle stablemates, walking several laps of the paddock before walking he main track the wrong way one lap, and then cantered a lap (1 1/8 miles). Pat Keating, assistant to trainer Aidan O'Brien said, "They all looked very well. They travelled well and were in good form. We're happy with all of them". He is looking for his third win in a row after winning the Onside Handicap at Curragh and the Nasrullah Handicap at Leopardstown. Wayne Lordan gets the call Saturday.

Platinum Warrior (Secretariat) will be attempting to make amends after a ninth-place finish in the Group 1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby on June 30 behind Latrobe, who he defeated one start prior in the Group 3 Airlie Stud Gallinule Stakes. The son of Galileo (IRE) has been up against some of the best 3-year-olds in Ireland all year. Prior to his Gallinule Stakes triumph, he was fourth in the Group 3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial Stakes at Leopardstown behind Hazapour, Ballydoyle's Delano Roosevelt (IRE) and The Pentagon (IRE).� Platinum Warrior will give trainer Michael Halford his first starter in the United States when he races in the Secretariat. Joel Rosario has the mount.

Real Story (Secretariat) will look for his third win in succession after two wire-to-wire victories on the Arlington turf, the latter of which took place in the Grade III American Derby. His only other career win came in his debut at Tampa Bay Downs last December when traveling a mile on turf. A half-brother to stakes winner My Afleet, the Correas trainee will stretch out to ten furlongs for the first time in Saturday's Secretariat. He breaks from the rail under Arlington's current leading rider Jose Valdivia, Jr.

Catcho En Die (Million) 6-year-old son of Catcher In The Rye (IRE) was a Group 1 winner in his native Argentina before traveling to the United States, where he was claimed by co-owner and trainer Naipaul Chatterpaul for $40,000 in April of this year, before winning the Stars and Stripes (G3), the local prep for the Million. Catcho En Die gets the services of Arlington's current leading rider Jose Valdivia, Jr. from post six.

Century Dream (Million) brings trainer Simon Crisford stateside to saddle just his second North American starter. The 4-year-old son of Cape Cross (IRE) won the Group 3 Investec Diamond Stakes at Epsom in June before a narrow loss by three-quarters of a length in the Group 1 Queen Anne at Royal Ascot. William Buick was aboard for both those starts and returns to ride the colt from gate five.

Oscar Performance (Million) schooling in the paddock on Friday. the winner of last season's Grade I Secretariat, will star from stage right when they break from the gate on Saturday, Aug. 11. The winner of the Arlington Million, a "Win and You're In" event, will receive an automatic berth into the Grade I $4,000,000 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf at Churchill Downs on Nov. 3. Trained by Brian Lynch, the multiple graded stakes-winning son of Kitten's Joy will look to become just the fifth horse to complete the Secretariat-Million double. A three-time Grade I winner over the grass, Oscar Performance tops the Million field in career earnings with $1,967,632. The 4-year-old colt will break from post 11 under Jose Ortiz.

Spring Quality (Million) will look to land trainer Graham Motion his first victory in the Million. The 4-year-old son of Quality Road defeated three Grade I winners when making his second start of the season in the Manhattan. Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado has the mount from gate two.

Ming (Secretariat) has made four career starts and won his last two, which took place in respective three and four-horse fields. In his penultimate effort, Ming bested a pair at Gowran on June 24. Jockey Seamie Heffernan tracked the early leader and began asking Ming at the top the stretch, where he would go on to win under a hand ride by 1� lengths. Last out at Navan on July 14, Ming defeated three others while sitting just off the pace under rider Billy Lee. At the top of the stretch, Ming did not need much asking from his rider and went on to score by 2� lengths. He will again be guided by Lee and breaks from post six.

Pont du Gard (Secretariat) seeks his first career stakes win in the Secretariat. Owned by Wimborne Farm, the Louisiana-bred son of Liaison was beaten just over two lengths in Arlington's two other tests for 3-year-olds on grass. In addition to his fourth-place finish in the American Derby, he was second behind Ezmosh in the Grade III Arlington Classic on May 26. Last July, he broke his maiden in his career debut over the grass at Arlington at long odds of 31-1.� His only other career win took place when defeating fellow Louisiana-breds in a Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots allowance race on March 9. Mitchell Murrill gets the call from post five.

Untamed Domain (Secretariat) is still in search of his first victory since last year's Grade II Summer Stakes at Woodbine on September 17. Trained by Graham Motion, the son of Animal Kingdom opened eyes last year when a rallying second behind Mendelssohn in the Grade I Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar on November 3. Last out, he was promoted to fifth in the Grade III Kent Stakes at Delaware Park after being interfered with on the far turn and again in upper stretch. He will receive riding services from Irad Ortiz, Jr. as the pair breaks from gate eight.

A scenic shot of the O'Brien string on Friday morning (left to right: Athena, Hunting Horn, Lucius Tiberius, Deauville). Aidan O'Brien is looking for the third Million win in his career with Deauville.

2015 Arlington Million winner The Pizza Man as a pony. The local hero won the American St. Leger in 2014, came back the next year to win the Million as the only Illinois-bred to win that state's marquee race, and in 2016, won the Northern Dancer Turf (G1) at Woodbine. After finishing 12th in the 2017 Million having suffered a bone chip in his lest front ankle, owner Richard Papiese retired him. After fully recovering from the injury, he returned to his trainer Roger Brueggemann to serve as a stable pony, with stablemate Twenty Four Seven running in this year's Million.

Previous runnings of the Arlington Million:

2017 - won by Beach Patrol
2016 - won by Mondialiste
2015 - won by The Pizza Man
2014 - won by Hardest Core
2013 - won by Real Solution
2012 - won by Little Mike
2011 - won by Cape Blanco
2010 - won by Debussy
2009 - won by Gio Ponti
2008 - won by Spirit One
2007 - won by Jambalaya
2006 - won by The Tin Man
2004 - won by Kicken Kris
2003 - won by Sulamani
2002 - won by Beat Hollow

Back to Horse-Races.Net main page

Search Horse-Races.Net:

Almanaar (Million) a 6-year-old gelded son of Dubawi, joined Brown's stable in 2016 following a pair of Group 3 victories in France. He returned from a lengthy spell in June to fire off a win on the Belmont turf over graded stakes winner Ticonderoga. Joel Rosario will ride from post three.
Circus Couture (Million) will be making his fourth start for conditioner Jane Chapple-Hyam, who has owned the 6-year-old son of Intikhab since February in partnership with Bryan Hirst. A nine-time winner in Italy for trainer Marco Botti, Circus Couture has hit the board in six of his seven career starts at the mile-and-a-quarter distance. Jockey John Egan will navigate the Irish-bred from the rail over the Chicagoland oval.
Deauville (Million) left the quarantine barn at 7:15 Thursday with his Ballydoyle stablemates, walking several laps of the paddock before walking he main track the wrong way one lap, and then cantered a lap (1 1/8 miles). Pat Keating, assistant to trainer Aidan O'Brien said, "They all looked very well. They travelled well and were in good form. We're happy with all of them". Deauville will be looking to make his third Million attempt a winning one after back-to-back third place efforts.
Money Multiplier (Million) comes here off a close second to stable mate Funtastic in the United Nations (G1) at Monmouth. Dean Lavy, racing manager for owner Al Shahania Stud said, "He is obviously a very good older horse. He was very competitive and he had run in Grade I's and Grade II's for the last couple years. Initially he was bought with the idea of bringing him to Doha, which we did, but we wanted to leave him in the States where he's more comfortable. He's very consistent, but this year he seems to be better than he's ever been." After the Million he may go next in the Breeders' Cup Turf. John Velazquez gets the call from post 8.
Oscar Performance (Million) victorious in last season's Grade I Secretariat, will star from stage right when they break from the gate on Saturday, Aug. 11. The winner of the Arlington Million, a "Win and You're In" event, will receive an automatic berth into the Grade I $4,000,000 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf at Churchill Downs on Nov. 3. Trained by Brian Lynch, the multiple graded stakes-winning son of Kitten's Joy will look to become just the fifth horse to complete the Secretariat-Million double. A three-time Grade I winner over the grass, Oscar Performance tops the Million field in career earnings with $1,967,632. The 4-year-old colt will break from post 11 under Jose Ortiz.
Robert Bruce (Million) was undefeated until a troubled trip in the Grade I Manhattan Handicap cost the 4-year-old son of Fast Company (IRE) a placing and a perfect record. A four-time group winner in his native country, he captured the Grade III Fort Marcy Stakes at Belmont Park in his North American debut on May 5 over fellow Million contender Spring Quality. Irad Ortiz, Jr. will pilot the Chilean-bred colt from gate ten.
Twenty Four Seven (Million), of the same local connections as The Pizza Man (below), was restless in the paddock prior to his sixth-place finish in the Grade III Arlington Handicap last out but finished just two lengths behind winner Divisidero. Local rider Chris Emigh will be aboard as the duo break from post seven.
Athena (Beverly D) left the quarantine barn at 7:15 Thursday with her Ballydoyle stablemates, walking several laps of the paddock before walking he main track the wrong way one lap, and then cantered a lap (1 1/8 miles). Pat Keating, assistant to trainer Aidan O'Brien said, "They all looked very well. They travelled well and were in good form. We're happy with all of them". She comes here off of a decisive victory in the Grade I Belmont Oaks Invitational on July 7.
Dona Bruja (Beverly D) finished in a dead-heat for second when beaten a half-length by Dacita in last year's Beverly D. and seeks redemption when breaking from post four under current Arlington leading rider Jose Valdivia, Jr. Trained by Ignacio Correas, IV she began her racing career in her native Argentina where she won the Group 1 Copa de Plata-Roberto Vasquez Mansilla-Internaciona at San Isidro in December 2016. This was her last start before joining Correas' barn in the United States. In her American debut, the 6-year-old daughter of Storm Embrujado (ARG) won the Grade III Old Forester Mint Julep Stakes at Churchill Downs then shipped to Arlington to take the Grade III Modesty Handicap. This season, she boasts a four-length victory in the Grade III Endeavor Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on February 10.
Fourstar Crook (Beverly D) is in search of her first Grade I win. Last season, she went on an eight-race winning streak which included her first graded victory in the Grade III Dr. James Penny Memorial Stakes as well as three-stakes wins against her New York-bred counterparts. The talented bay continues to impress in her 6-year-old campaign with a pair of Grade II victories in the Hillsborough Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs and the New York Handicap under the guidance of pilot Irad Ortiz, Jr. who has the call in the Beverly D. She will emerge from post seven and will look to become the first New York-bred to win the Beverly D.
Inflexibility (Beverly D) has yet to win a graded stakes race but has secured a pair of stakes wins against fellow Ontario-breds over the lawn at Woodbine Racetrack in last year's Wonder Where Stakes, third leg of Canada's filly Triple Tiara, and the Carotene Stakes. In her last effort, Inflexibility set an easy pace in the Grade II Dance Smartly at Woodbine Racetrack but could not hold off stablemate Santa Monica (GB). A victory in the Beverly D. would make her the first Ontario-bred to win the event since Dancing On a Cloud won the 1987 edition. Joel Rosario is named to ride from post eight.
Nyaleti (Beverly D) is owned by Chris, Rosie and Rob Batterham in partnership with Jen Reay and in search of her first Grade I victory. The 3-year-old daughter of Arch won the Group 2 German 1,000 Guineas over the tight, undulating course at Dusseldorf on May 27 by 4� lengths when going a mile. Last time out, the Mark Johnston trainee was fourth in the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket behind Alpha Centauri (IRE). As a juvenile, she captured the Group 3 Princess Margaret Juddmonte Stakes. Nyaleti will be piloted by Silvestre de Sousa from gate two in her North American debut.�
Oh So Terrible (Beverly D) is the only Beverly D. contender with multiple wins over the surface. Trained by locally-based Bradley Ross, the 4-year-old filly has not won since defeating winners last September, but what she lacks in recent form she makes up for with a solid pedigree. By 2011 Arlington Million winner Cape Blanco (GB), she is out of two-time Argentinian champion Miss Terrible (ARG), who won two Grade III races when racing in the United States with conditioner Bradley Ross. Ross will look to capture his first Grade I with the daughter of the Argentinian champion. She will break from post six under veteran rider Sophie Doyle.
Sistercharlie (Beverly D) began her career in France where she was a Group 3 winner and finished second in the Group 1 Prix de Diane (French Oaks). The 4-year-old daughter of Myboycharlie (IRE) will be ridden by Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, who has guided Sistercharlie in all four of her North American starts, including wins in the Jenny Wiley (G1) and Diana (G1).
Thais (Beverly D) a 4-year-old filly from the first crop of Rio de la Plata, began racing in her native France, where she won the Prix des Lilas at Maisons-Laffitte last June. Since arriving to the United States, the Brown trainee has been stakes placed twice and won her first race in America when coming off of a six-month layoff in an allowance optional claiming event over the Belmont Park turf. Owned by Allen Stable and Peter Brant, she boasts a consistent lifetime record of 12-3-3-3. Thais will be piloted by Florent Geroux from gate five.
Analyze It (Secretariat) son of Point of Entry has only lost twice in his five-race career, both of which were hard fought efforts behind Catholic Boy in the Grade III Pennine Ridge Stakes and the Grade I Belmont Derby Invitational. Analyze It dazzled in his first three career starts, which include a 6�-length maiden special weight win at Belmont Park last October and wins in the Cecil B. DeMille at Del Mar and the Transylvania Stakes at Keeneland � both Grade III events. He will break from the nine hole under jockey Jose Ortiz.
Bandua (Secretariat) won his first two career outings, both at the Secretariat's 1�-mile distance. He stretched out even further for his next two starts � an eighth-place finish in the Group 1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby prior to being beaten only 1� lengths when running fifth in the Kingdom Of Bahrain Vinnie Roe Stakes on July 26. He breaks from post three and will be ridden by William Buick, who seeks his first Secretariat triumph.
Captivating Moon (Secretariat) breaks from post seven. The son of Malibu Moon has hit the board in nine of his ten career starts, which includes runner-up finishes in the Grade III American Derby at Arlington on July 7, the Grade II American Turf Stakes on May 5, and the Grade III Transylvania Stakes at Keeneland on April 6. He owns a career debut win at Arlington last summer and an allowance win over the turf at Tampa Bay Downs on February 11. Captivating Moon will be ridden by Florent Geroux, who has taken the mount in four of the colt's last five starts.
Carrick (Secretariat) a Donegal Racing owned son of Giant's Causeway who was third in the Delaware Park stakes event for trainer Tom Morley. Named after the Anglicized version of the Gaelic word for "rock", he broke his maiden for a $40,000 tag at Belmont Park on May 12 before winning a starter allowance race at the Elmont oval where he defeated next out winners Sentry and Not in Charge. He will be Morley's first starter at Arlington and will look to give his owners their second Secretariat victory after scoring with Paddy O'Prado in 2010.
Hunting Horn (Secretariat) left the quarantine barn at 7:15 Thursday with his Ballydoyle stablemates, walking several laps of the paddock before walking he main track the wrong way one lap, and then cantered a lap (1 1/8 miles). Pat Keating, assistant to trainer Aidan O'Brien said, "They all looked very well. They travelled well and were in good form. We're happy with all of them". He last raced when finishing third beaten 1� lengths in the Grade I Belmont Derby Invitational on July 7.
Lucius Tiberius (Secretariat) left the quarantine barn at 7:15 Thursday with his Ballydoyle stablemates, walking several laps of the paddock before walking he main track the wrong way one lap, and then cantered a lap (1 1/8 miles). Pat Keating, assistant to trainer Aidan O'Brien said, "They all looked very well. They travelled well and were in good form. We're happy with all of them". He is looking for his third win in a row after winning the Onside Handicap at Curragh and the Nasrullah Handicap at Leopardstown. Wayne Lordan gets the call Saturday.
Platinum Warrior (Secretariat) will be attempting to make amends after a ninth-place finish in the Group 1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby on June 30 behind Latrobe, who he defeated one start prior in the Group 3 Airlie Stud Gallinule Stakes. The son of Galileo (IRE) has been up against some of the best 3-year-olds in Ireland all year. Prior to his Gallinule Stakes triumph, he was fourth in the Group 3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial Stakes at Leopardstown behind Hazapour, Ballydoyle's Delano Roosevelt (IRE) and The Pentagon (IRE).� Platinum Warrior will give trainer Michael Halford his first starter in the United States when he races in the Secretariat. Joel Rosario has the mount.
Real Story (Secretariat) will look for his third win in succession after two wire-to-wire victories on the Arlington turf, the latter of which took place in the Grade III American Derby. His only other career win came in his debut at Tampa Bay Downs last December when traveling a mile on turf. A half-brother to stakes winner My Afleet, the Correas trainee will stretch out to ten furlongs for the first time in Saturday's Secretariat. He breaks from the rail under Arlington's current leading rider Jose Valdivia, Jr.
Catcho En Die (Million) 6-year-old son of Catcher In The Rye (IRE) was a Group 1 winner in his native Argentina before traveling to the United States, where he was claimed by co-owner and trainer Naipaul Chatterpaul for $40,000 in April of this year, before winning the Stars and Stripes (G3), the local prep for the Million. Catcho En Die gets the services of Arlington's current leading rider Jose Valdivia, Jr. from post six.
Century Dream (Million) brings trainer Simon Crisford stateside to saddle just his second North American starter. The 4-year-old son of Cape Cross (IRE) won the Group 3 Investec Diamond Stakes at Epsom in June before a narrow loss by three-quarters of a length in the Group 1 Queen Anne at Royal Ascot. William Buick was aboard for both those starts and returns to ride the colt from gate five.
Oscar Performance (Million) schooling in the paddock on Friday. the winner of last season's Grade I Secretariat, will star from stage right when they break from the gate on Saturday, Aug. 11. The winner of the Arlington Million, a "Win and You're In" event, will receive an automatic berth into the Grade I $4,000,000 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf at Churchill Downs on Nov. 3. Trained by Brian Lynch, the multiple graded stakes-winning son of Kitten's Joy will look to become just the fifth horse to complete the Secretariat-Million double. A three-time Grade I winner over the grass, Oscar Performance tops the Million field in career earnings with $1,967,632. The 4-year-old colt will break from post 11 under Jose Ortiz.
Spring Quality (Million) will look to land trainer Graham Motion his first victory in the Million. The 4-year-old son of Quality Road defeated three Grade I winners when making his second start of the season in the Manhattan. Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado has the mount from gate two.
Ming (Secretariat) has made four career starts and won his last two, which took place in respective three and four-horse fields. In his penultimate effort, Ming bested a pair at Gowran on June 24. Jockey Seamie Heffernan tracked the early leader and began asking Ming at the top the stretch, where he would go on to win under a hand ride by 1� lengths. Last out at Navan on July 14, Ming defeated three others while sitting just off the pace under rider Billy Lee. At the top of the stretch, Ming did not need much asking from his rider and went on to score by 2� lengths. He will again be guided by Lee and breaks from post six.
Pont du Gard (Secretariat) seeks his first career stakes win in the Secretariat. Owned by Wimborne Farm, the Louisiana-bred son of Liaison was beaten just over two lengths in Arlington's two other tests for 3-year-olds on grass. In addition to his fourth-place finish in the American Derby, he was second behind Ezmosh in the Grade III Arlington Classic on May 26. Last July, he broke his maiden in his career debut over the grass at Arlington at long odds of 31-1.� His only other career win took place when defeating fellow Louisiana-breds in a Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots allowance race on March 9. Mitchell Murrill gets the call from post five.
Untamed Domain (Secretariat) is still in search of his first victory since last year's Grade II Summer Stakes at Woodbine on September 17. Trained by Graham Motion, the son of Animal Kingdom opened eyes last year when a rallying second behind Mendelssohn in the Grade I Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar on November 3. Last out, he was promoted to fifth in the Grade III Kent Stakes at Delaware Park after being interfered with on the far turn and again in upper stretch. He will receive riding services from Irad Ortiz, Jr. as the pair breaks from gate eight.
A scenic shot of the O'Brien string on Friday morning (left to right: Athena, Hunting Horn, Lucius Tiberius, Deauville). Aidan O'Brien is looking for the third Million win in his career with Deauville.
2015 Arlington Million winner The Pizza Man as a pony. The local hero won the American St. Leger in 2014, came back the next year to win the Million as the only Illinois-bred to win that state's marquee race, and in 2016, won the Northern Dancer Turf (G1) at Woodbine. After finishing 12th in the 2017 Million having suffered a bone chip in his lest front ankle, owner Richard Papiese retired him. After fully recovering from the injury, he returned to his trainer Roger Brueggemann to serve as a stable pony, with stablemate Twenty Four Seven running in this year's Million.