Real Solution awarded Million via DQ of The Apache

When Ken and Sarah Ramsey's Real Solution accosted The Apache in Saturday's

$1 million

Arlington Million, he looked ready to become their amazing third Grade

1-winning homebred on the day, all sired by Kitten's Joy, following Big Blue

Kitten in the Sword Dancer at Saratoga and Admiral Kitten in the Secretariat

earlier at Arlington. But when The Apache fought back to reclaim the advantage

at the wire, he apparently denied the Ramseys' fairy tale.

In so doing, however, the former South African champion bumped and herded

Real Solution, carrying him out a couple of paths. Jockey Alan Garcia

accordingly claimed foul against Christophe Soumillon on The Apache. The

stewards reviewed the stretch run, disqualified The Apache, and awarded the 31st

Arlington Million trophy to Real Solution.

Thus Saturday's golden run for the Ramseys and Kitten's Joy continued after all, and Real Solution secured an

automatic berth to the Breeders' Cup Turf as part of the "Win and You're In"

program.

Sixth as the favorite in last year's Derby Italiano, Real Solution was

repatriated and joined Chad Brown for 2013. He finished fourth in his U.S. debut

in the May 4 Fort Marcy over an inadequate 1 1/16 miles at Belmont Park, and

took a step forward next time out when third to Point of Entry in the June 8

Manhattan Handicap at the same venue. With something still to prove in the

Arlington Million, Real Solution was dispatched as the fifth choice at 8-1.

Real Solution, held up farther back on the rail for much of the way, then

angled out and found a seam down the lane. Gaining ground fast, Real Solution

rallied alongside The Apache, and appeared to head that rival briefly.

The Apache responded to Soumillon's left-handed drive and bravely came again.

Bumping Real Solution in the course of his rally, The Apache also drifted out in

the final yards, compounding his original infraction. The Mike de Kock trainee

thrust his head back in front in a final time of 2:00 4/5 for the 1 1/4-mile

feature. Real Solution's forward progress had been compromised by their contact,

though, and Garcia's objection was soon forthcoming.

"He broke really good," Garcia said. "The first 2 1/2 (furlongs) I took him

back out of there; he was nice and relaxed.

"At the top of the stretch, I had plenty of horse to go by and the other

horse bumped us more than four times -- made me lose my momentum. If that didn't

happen, we might have won by two or three lengths," Garcia contended.

Soumillon had a different view.

"As you can see, we were the better horse, but he got scared by the (Jumbotron)

screen and shifted out," Soumillon said. "We were the best horse."   

The Pennsylvania-bred Real Solution now brandishes a mark of 8-4-1-1,

$666,591. Sent to Italy, he showed great promise by winning his first three

starts for trainer Gianluca Bietolini. Real Solution started his career in

November of his juvenile season with a comfortable maiden score at Rome's

Capannelle, the scene of all of his Italian races.

A resounding seven-length

winner of his 2012 debut in a conditions event, he coasted by five lengths in

his first stakes attempt in the Premio Botticelli. That garnered him favoritism

for the 129th Derby Italiano, but he threw in a clunker. Real Solution was

subsequently sidelined by a lung infection and didn't resurface until last

September, when he closed his Roman career with a runner-up effort in another

conditions race.

Real Solution is the first registered foal from the winning Pulpit mare

Reachfortheheavens, who comes from the family of 2007 American Derby victor

Lattice; undefeated Sign, last seen landing the Pocahontas in October; and

two-time Peruvian champion grass horse Tunelero.

This is the further family of

two-time Eclipse Award winner Slew o' Gold and Coastal, who famously upset

Spectacular Bid in the 1979 Belmont Stakes.