        |
|
 |
Sovereign Awards Derby & Auction Prices Santa Anita Derby Day Wood Memorial Day Kentucky Derby Contenders |
|
|
 Horses walk over for the morning works at Arlington on Thursday |
The Arlington Million (G1), the world's first million-dollar race, was not run in 2020 due to COVID restrictions and this year will be the final running of the race, although it has been renamed the Mr. D. Stakes and reduced in purse to $600,000. Churchill Downs, who owns the track, has sold it with the intention that racing will no long be conducted there.
A field of 10 older horses was entered for the Mr. D. Stakes (G1) at 1 1/4 miles over the turf course at Arlington International Racecourse in the Chicago suburbs. Domestic Spending is the 6-5 morning line favorite in post 3 with Irish invader Armory the second choice at 9-2 in post 9. Two more Grade 1 turf events are on the undercard, the $400,000 Beverly D. Stakes (G1) for older fillies and mares going 1 3/16 miles with a field of 7, and the $200,000 Bruce D. Stakes (G1), formerly run as the Secretariat Stakes, for 3-year-olds at 1 mile with a field of 9.
Check out 24 photos from Thursday and Friday morning below, including several of the contenders and some scenic shots of Arlington Park. Click on the small photo to see a larger version.
 Another Mystery (Mr. D.) finished third in the Arlington Stakes (G3) the main local prep for this event. The Illinois bred looks to win his state's signature race for owner-breeder Team Block and trainer Chris Block at 20-1 odds from post 6. New jockey Jose Lopez gets the call.
|
 Armory (Mr. D.) and Santa Barbara (Beverly D.) represent trainer Aidan O'Brien. O'Brien said of Armory, "We always thought this was a race would suit him. He's a pacey horse going a mile and a quarter over a flat track, and he likes travelling. I imagine he'll be handy in the race, but Ryan (Moore) will decide that." Of Santa Barbara he said, "She's a filly with a lot of speed. We thought she'd do well coming back at a shorter trip. She won nicely at Belmont, and she's done everything we asked of her."
|
  Domestic Spending (Mr. D.) looks to extend trainer Chad Brown's record for wins in the (former) Arlington Million. He has 4 wins in this race including the last 3 runnings. "He's much stronger, finishing his works a lot stronger," Brown said. "It was certainly nice to see him finish off his race that way. On speed figures, he's as fast as any of them. He has more to accomplish to fill out the résumé to get there, but it's really impressive the way he's developed."
|
  Space Traveller (Mr. D.) makes his first start for new trainer Brendan Walsh after shipping in from England. He finished 6th in the Sussex (G1) at Goodwood last out. Regular rider Danny Tudhope flies in from Ireland to ride the 20-1 shot from post 7.
|
 Strong Tide (Mr. D.) is a 15-1 shot for trainer Michael Lauer. He comes here off a 6th place finish in the Jonathan Schuster Memorial at Indiana Grand after disappointing 8th in the Belmont Gold Cup (G2). New jockey Julio Felix breaks from the rail.
|
  Therideofalifetime (Bruce D.) drew the rail for trainer Ignacio Correas IV. He finished third in an overnight handicap at Colonial last out. Regular rider James Graham rides the 6-1 shot on Saturday.
|
 Joy Epifora (Beverly D.) was second in the Modesty (G3) last out for trainer Ignacio Correas IV. The 8-1 shot gets jockey Declan Cannon from post 3.
|
  Lemista (Beverly D.) looks to stretch trainer Chad Brown's win streak in this race to 6 straight and 7 overall, however she comes here off a disappointing 8th in the Diana (G1) at Saratoga. "No idea what happened," Brown said. "She came back and worked fabulous, so we'll draw a line through it and hope she regains herself."
|
 Mean Mary (Beverly D.) will be trainer Graham Motion's last hope to win the Beverly D, a race he has never won. "This was a race I had on the radar for her since the beginning of the season," said Motion. Regular rider Luis Saez gets the call.
|
  Naval Laughter (Beverly D.) is the 9-2 third choice for trainer Christopher Davis. She won the Modesty (G3) the main local prep for this race. Regular rider Sophie Doyle rides from post 5.
|
 Shadizaar (Bruce D.) is a 30-1 outsider from post 7. The Peter Gulyas trainee disappointed in 8th in the Mystic Lake Derby at Canterbury last out. Regular rider Shannon Uske gets the call.
|
 Shantisara (Pucker Up) drew post 3 as the 4-1 fourth choice for trainer Chad Brown. She finished second in the Boiling Springs at Monmouth after shipping over from France. New rider Flavien Prat gets the call.
|
 Oyster Box (Pucker Up) is the 7-2 second choice and drew post 1 for trainer Graham Motion She comes here off a 4th place finish in the Regret (G3). New rider Luis Saez will be aboard.
|
 Summer Day (Mike Spellman Memorial S.) is winless since an allowance race at Hawthorne in November for trainer Anthony Mitchell. Jockey Rocco Bowen rides the 10-1 shot from post 3.
|
 Jolina (Isaac Murphy S.) won an allowance at Arlington last out for trainer Anthony Mitchell. Jockey Rocco Bowen rides the 3-1 second choice from post 5.
|
  The grandstand at Arlington. The original grandstand famously burned to the ground in 1985. Owner Richard Duchossois rebuilt the facility with this stunning cantilevered roof, which would go on to host the 2002 Breeders' Cup World Championships. It is sad to think that 36 years later the new building faces the wrecking ball. |
  The paddock at Arlington and the life size statue of John Henry and The Bart at the finish of the 1981 Arlington Million. A smaller replica of the statue is at the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame at Woodbine, a gift from Arlington after the track hosted the 1986 Million while the new grandstand was under construction. |
Previous runnings of the Arlington Million:
| Search Horse-Races.Net: |
