Nine pre-entered for Arlington Million; Gladiatorus out
Pre-entries for the Arlington Million (G1), Beverly D. S. (G1) and
Secretariat S. (G1) closed at midnight Friday with nine older horses named to
the 27th running of the Arlington Million, 10 fillies and mares available for
the $750,000 Beverly D. and 11 sophomores slated as possible for the $400,000
Secretariat.
To be run next Saturday, the only three Grade 1 races contested in Illinois
on an annual basis make up Arlington’s one-day International Festival of Racing,
and Arlington Million XXVII gets added international prestige for the first time
because the winner will receive an automatic invitation to the Japan Cup
(Jpn-G1) at Tokyo on November 29.
Post positions for all three races will be drawn Tuesday afternoon in
downtown Chicago at the ESPN Zone.
European invaders for the Arlington Million, in alphabetical order are the
Irish-bred CIMA DE TRIOMPHE (Galileo [Ire]), owned by Teruya Yoshida and winner
of the Brigadier Gerard S. (Eng-G3) May 28; Brazilian-bred GLORIA DE CAMPEAO
(Impression), owned by Stefan Friborg and winner of the Singapore Airlines
International Cup (Mal-G1) May 18; and British-bred STOTSFOLD (Barathea [Ire]),
owned by Peter Harris and winner of the La Coupe (Fr-G3) June 18.
One leading international candidate, Godolphin’s Dubai Duty Free (UAE-G1)
romper GLADIATORUS (Silic [Fr]), has been ruled out of the Million after
sustaining a bruised foot. He most recently disappointed as the public choice in
the Queen Anne (Eng-G1) at Royal Ascot June 16.
“Gladiatorus was diagnosed with a corn in his foot and therefore will miss
the Arlington Million,” Godolphin’s racing manager Simon Crisford said in a
statement. “We hope that he will recover in time to run in the Jacques Le Marois
(Fr-G1) at Deauville on August 16.”
North American-based Million pre-entries in alphabetical order are Midnight
Cry Stables’ EINSTEIN (Brz) (Spend a Buck), winner of the Woodford Reserve Turf
Classic (G1) May 2; Castleton Lyons’ GIO PONTI (Tale of the Cat), winner of the
Man o’ War S. (G1) July 11; Jonathan Sheppard’s JUST AS WELL (A.P. Indy), winner
of the Arlington H. (G3) July 11; Circle E Racing’s MR. SIDNEY (Storm Cat),
winner of the Firecracker H. (G2) July 4; Patricia Generazio’s PRESIOUS PASSION
(Royal Anthem), winner of the United Nations (G1) July 4; and Louie Roussel and
Ronnie Lamarque’s RECAPTURETHEGLORY (Cherokee Run), winner of the Illinois Derby
(G2) last year.
In alphabetical order, the three European-based fillies pre-entered for the
Beverly D. are the Irish-bred ALNADANA (Danehill Dancer), owned by His Highness
the Aga Khan’s Studs, Ltd. and winner of the Prix Messidor (Fr-G3) July 18; the
Kentucky-bred DENOMINATION (Smart Strike), owned by Mrs. Alec Head and winner of
the Prix Vanteaux (Fr-G3) April 26; and the Irish-bred MAD ABOUT YOU (Indian
Ridge), owned by Moyglare Stud Farm Ltd. and winner of the Gladness S. (Ire-G3)
April 5.
North American-based fillies and mares available for the Beverly D. are
Doubledown Stables Inc.’s BLACK MAMBA (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe), winner of the
Beverly Hills H. (G2) June 28; Dr. John Chandler’s DYNAFORCE (Dynaformer),
winner of the Flower Bowl Invitational (G1) last year; Augustin Stable’s FOREVER
TOGETHER (Belong to Me), winner of the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) last
year; Brushwood Stable’s MUSHKA (Empire Maker), winner of the Demoiselle S. (G2)
two years ago; Live Oak Plantation’s POINTS OF GRACE (Point Given), winner of
the Dance Smartly S. (Can-G2) July 11; Lewis Lakin’s PURE CLAN (Pure Prize),
winner of the Modesty H. (G3) July 11; and Darley Stable’s TIZAQUEENA (Tiznow)
winner of the Distaff Turf Mile (G2) May 2.
The Irish-bred BLACK BEAR ISLAND (Sadler’s Wells), recently purchased by R.
D. Hubbard, Robert Masterson and Edward Allred, is the lone European-based
three-year-old coming for the Secretariat, but will remain in this country
following the race. The Aidan O’Brien colt won the Dante S. (Eng-G2) May 14.
North American-based Secretariat pre-entries include a pair of Silverton Hill
sophomores — CLIFFY’S FUTURE (The Cliff’s Edge), winner of the Rushaway S.
March 21, and DRIVING SNOW (GB) (Verglas [Ire]), winner of the Oliver S. July 7.
The Secretariat, the final leg of Arlington’s Mid-America Triple, has
attracted the winners of the first two legs. Virginia Tarra Trust’s GIANT OAK
(Giant’s Causeway) won the 75th anniversary edition of the Arlington Classic as
the Triple’s first leg May 23, and Ashbrook Farm’s REB (Stormy Atlantic)
captured the American Derby (G2) as the Triple’s middle leg July 11.
Completing the Secretariat pre-entries are Ron Herrell, Keith Wexler and
Brian Reed’s HOOSIER KINGDOM (Repent), winner of the Governor’s S. July 14;
Castleton Lyons’ LAUREATE CONDUCTOR (Bernstein), winner of the Choice S. July 5;
Michael Talla’s OIL MAN (Ire) (Pyrus), winner of the Cinema H. (G3) June 21;
William Stiritz’s PROCEED BEE (Bernstein), winner of the Prairie Mile June 6;
Jean and Ted Barlas and Michael Porcaro’s QUITE A HANDFUL (Mutakddim), most
recently runner-up by three-quarters in the Oliver; and Starlight Partners’ TAKE
THE POINTS (Even the Score), most recently third, beaten less than a length, in
the Virginia Derby (G2) July 18.