Tajaaweed, Wasted Tears expected on Million Preview Day

Shadwell Stable's TAJAAWEED (Dynaformer), third in the Arlington H. (G3) last

year and sixth in the Arlington Million (G1), is on course for Saturday's

renewal of the Arlington 'Cap.

"He worked good and he galloped out good," trainer Danny Peitz said of his

charge's five-furlong work over the Polytrack in 1:00 3/5 Sunday morning. "I got

him galloping out in (1:13 1/5). He's coming into Saturday's race good -- just

like he did last year. The only difference I want to happen is to make sure we

win it this time."

Designed as the final local prep for the Arlington Million in recent years,

Saturday's Arlington 'Cap will be run as part of a three-stakes program over

Arlington's world famous turf course that is billed as Million Preview Day.

Saturday's Modesty H. (G3) and the American Derby (G2) will serve as the local

tune-ups for the Beverly D. (G1) and Secretariat S. (G1), respectively.

The Arlington Million, $750,000 Beverly D. and $400,000 Secretariat will be

run as part of Arlington's International Festival of Racing on August 13.

Others likely for the Arlington Handicap at this time include Jose Carillo

and Fernando Fantini's INTERACTION (Arg) (Easing Along), the Argentinean Horse

of the Year who won the Carlos Pellegrini (Arg-G1) in 2009; G. Watts Humphrey

Jr.'s EL CRESPO (A.P. Indy), fourth-place runner in Churchill's Louisville H.

(G3) May 28 who breezed a half on the Polytrack at Keeneland Sunday in :50 2/5;

Lothenbach Stables' MISTER MARTI GRAS (Belong to Me), who breezed five furlongs

in 1:01 at Churchill on the Fourth of July after being a late scratch out of

that track's Firecracker H. (G2) on that day; and Stiftung Gestut Fahrhof's

German-bred SANAGAS (Lomitas [GB]), from the same connections as 2001 Arlington

Million winner Silvano (Ger).

Completing the list of probable starters as of Monday morning were Keith

Chudzik's AMUN RE (Great Pyramid [Ire]), Ken and Sarah Ramsey's DEAN'S KITTEN

(Kitten's Joy), Betty and Robert Irvin's JUNIPER PASS (Lemon Drop Kid) and

William Stiritz's PROCEED BEE (Bernstein).

Bart Evans' WASTED TEARS (Najran), winner of the last three runnings of the

Ouija Board Distaff (G3) at Lone Star Park including the 2011 renewal May 30,

arrived at Arlington Park last Saturday from her Grand Prairie, Texas, home base

to contest the Modesty.

Last year, Wasted Tears used her Ouija Board win as a springboard to victory

in the John Mabee S. (G2) at Del Mar, but "(Arlington Racing Secretary) Chris

Polzin talked me into coming here this year for this race to prep for the

Beverly D.," owner-trainer-breeder Evans said Monday morning.

"It's beautiful here," said Evans, who breezed Wasted Tears five furlongs in

1:01 3/5 on June 30 at Lone Star before coming to Chicago. "I just hope it stays

nice all week and it's beautiful on Saturday as well. I may give her a little

something to do on the grass here later in the week."

Augustin Stable's FANTASIA (GB) (Sadler's Wells), runner-up in Belmont's Just

a Game S. (G1) on Belmont Stakes Day June 11, and the Chris Block-trained pair

of Team Block's NEVER RETREAT (Smart Strike) and Team Block and Richard Ege's

ASKBUT I WON'TTELL (Horse Chestnut [SAf]), who each breezed five furlongs over

Arlington's firm grass Sunday in 1:06 4/5, are also expected for the Modesty, as

are Tracy Farmer's LA GRAN BAILADORA (Afleet Alex), runner-up in the Arlington

Matron (G3) May 28; Moyglare Stud's ENDLESS EXPANSE (Ire) (Red Ransom); Arterbum

and Stolich's MONSLEWN (Slew City Slew); Magdalena Racing's MY BABY BABY

(Bernstein); and Butterfly Stable's ROMIN ROBIN (Pure Precision).