Festival Attracts Eclectic Bunch

A total of 29 horses, both domestically and foreign-based, were entered Wednesday for the three Grade I races that serve as the focal point of Saturday’s International Festival of Racing, the centerpiece on the Illinois calendar, at Arlington Park in suburban Chicago.

Chad Brown, who learned many tricks of the training trade from the late two-time Arlington Million-winning conditioner Bobby Frankel, earned his first win in the event when Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Real Solution (Kitten’s Joy) was put up in 2013, will send out the top two choices on the morning line, topped by the Ramseys’ Big Blue Kitten (Kitten’s Joy). The one-time claimer has been kept in training at age seven this term, and the decision looks to be paying off, as the ridgling has posted wins in two of his three outings, including a 1 1/2-length defeat of stablemate Slumber (GB) (Cacique {Ire}) in securing a second success in the GI United Nations S. July 5. Prior to that effort, Slumber, also a 7-year-old entire, got the better of the Ramsey runner when adding blinkers for the first time and reporting home a 2 3/4-length winner of the GI Manhattan S. going the Million’s 10-furlong distance June 6, with Legendary (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) third.

Trainer Bill Mott’s name is engraved on the Million trophy, having sent out Paradise Creek (Irish River {Fr}) to a popular success in 1994. The barn is represented Saturday by the sneaky Triple Threat (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}). The last-out winner of the GII Monmouth Cup is raced by Gary Barber in partnership with Team Valor, whose Star of Cozzene (Cozzene) landed a boggy-turf renewal of the Million in 1993.

The connections of just three overseas horses have decided to take a crack at the $600,000 first prize, but two of those are sent out by trainers also familiar with the Million winner’s circle. Trainer Andreas Wohler, who sent out Silvano (Ger) (Lomitas {GB}) to an historic win in 2001, will saddle multiple German Group 3 hero Wake Forest (Ger) (Sir Percy {GB}), whose co-owner Gestut Faerhof also campaigned Silvano. John Gosden and jockey William Buick combined for an 11-1 upset of Gio Ponti (Tale of the Cat) with Debussy (Ire) (Diesis {GB}) in the 2010 Million, and that duo will join forces at the weekend once again with Godolphin’s Maverick Wave (Elusive Quality), who is unraced since a half-length tally in the G3 Huxley S. at tight-turning Chester May 7.

D-Peat?…

Team Valor’s Euro Charline (GB) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) made some history last year, becoming the first 3-year-old filly to defeat her elders in the GI Beverly D. S., and she’ll have a chance to make some more, as she attempts to be the first to record multiple victories in the event. The bay has faced the starter but twice in 2015, finishing fourth to Solow (Ire) (Singspiel {Ire}) when first up in the G1 Dubai Turf Mar. 28 and was a dour runner-up to the in-form Amazing Maria (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) when last seen in the G1 Falmouth S. going a stiff mile over Newmarket’s July Course on the 10th of that month.

A Secretariat Septet…

Despite attracting just seven sophomores, the GI Secretariat S. is, in some ways, the day’s most intriguing affair. Richard Santulli’s Force the Pass (Speightstown) is the mild 2-1 favorite as he looks to follow up on a visually impressive victory in the 10-furlong GI Belmont Derby July 5, but he’ll have to defeat some promising Euros in order to do so. Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) goes out for the same connections responsible for last year’s winner Adelaide (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and was runner-up in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club May 31 before posting a 1 1/2-length success last time out in the G3 Gordon S. at Goodwood July 29. Joe Allen’s War Dispatch (War Front) was third in the Chantilly Classic and the close relative of Hong Kong G1SW and G2 UAE Derby hero Helene Super Star (ex Lines of Battle) was most recently a well-bet second in the G2 Prix Eugene Adam at Maisons-Laffitte July 19. Goldstream (Ity) (Martino Alonso {Ire}) is this race’s X-factor, as he brings a perfect five-for-five record into the Secretariat. Favored in each of those appearances, the bay was last seen annexing the G2 Derby Italiano by three lengths May 17. Brenton Avdulla makes the trip up from Australia to ride for trainer Andreas Wohler.