Arlington Million candidate Speaking of Which weighs options

Arlington Million candidate Speaking of Which weighs

options

Irish bred and owned, trained by a Frenchman and based in New York -- few

horses fit the global profile of Arlington International Racecourse better than

Speaking of Which -- and he may just be heading to the Chicagoland oval to

display such on Million Preview Day (July 12) in the Grade 3, $200,000 Arlington

Handicap. 

Owned by Moyglare Stud Farm and trained by Christophe Clement, Speaking of

Which is exiting arguably the best performance of his career -- a facile victory

in the Grade 2 Monmouth Stakes at Monmouth Park on June 8 -- opening up options

for the talented son of Irish champion sprinter Invincible Spirit. 

"We are looking at Arlington, New Jersey and Canada next. We haven't

committed yet and the plans are still up in the air," assistant trainer

Christophe Lorieul said. "The next race will be very important for him -- it

will help us decide on the (Grade 1) Arlington Million." 

While the Arlington Handicap is at the course and 1 1/4-mile distance of the

Million, the Grade 2, C$200,000 Nijinsky Stakes July 19 at Woodbine is at 1 1/8

miles (around one turn) and the Grade 1, $500,000 United Nations July 6 at

Monmouth is at 1 3/8 miles.

"When you look at his pedigree, he has a lot of natural speed being by

Invincible Spirit," Lorieul explained. "Maybe a mile and an eighth could be his

best distance. Mostly it's a question of pace as to whether he can stretch from

there."

Since arriving in Clement's barn from that of Ireland's Dermot Weld in the

fall of 2012, the five-year-old has done very well, including winning or hitting

the board in five graded stakes. 

"He's a little bit of a tricky horse to be around. The race has to go his own

way," Lorieul said.  "(Winning the Grade 3 Tropical Turf Handicap) last

fall was a very good performance, too. He can also perform on any kind of

ground, but might run a little better with a little footing (cut) in the grass. 

But, when he won (the Monmouth Stakes) the other day and it was very firm -- I

guess that was just the icing on the cake."

G. Watts Humphrey's Frivolous is eying a return to Arlington for the Grade 3,

$200,000 Modesty Handicap on July 12, according to trainer Victoria Oliver.

"She came out of her last race (a fourth in the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis Stakes

at Churchill Downs) very well and the Modesty is definitely possible," Oliver

said. "Distance is the number one thing with her -- she needs more of it and she

does well at Arlington. One of her best numbers was on the Arlington turf, but

she also had one of her worst performances there. There aren't a lot of options

right now for her."

Prior to the Fleur de Lis, the homebred daughter of Empire Maker was second

in the Grade 3 Arlington Matron over nine Polytrack furlongs. Last year, she

finished a good fourth -- beaten three-quarters of a length -- in the grassy

$75,000 Hatoof Stakes on Million Day.  Prior to that she was second by a

neck in the Grade 3 Arlington Oaks on the Polytrack. 

"She's a versatile filly and runs on everything. She just needs the

distance," Oliver concluded.

Bet Horseracing Free Online at

TwinSpires.com