International Festival of Racing: A Pedigree and Handicapping Primer for the Euros

by Alan Carasso 

As usual, Saturday’s International Festival of Racing at Arlington International Racecourse has attracted its fair share of overseas runners, with 12 of the 38 pre-entries coming from Europe from top-class outfits. Here is a profile of each of the horses: 

ARLINGTON MILLION-GI, $1,000,000, 3yo/up, 1 1/4mT 
Tabor, Smith and Magnier’s Magician (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is no stranger to American racegoers, having defeated The Fugue (GB) (Dansili {GB}) to register a mild 7-1 upset in the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf last fall. Though that victory came over 12 furlongs, the 4-year-old won the G3 Mooresbridge S. (video) at this more abbreviated distance in his second start of the year this past May, but exits a distant sixth to Tahgrooda (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in the G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. at Ascot July 26. He’ll certainly find this softer competition to his liking. Trainer Aidan O’Brien is a two-time Million winner, most recently with another son of Galileo–Cape Blanco (Ire)–in 2011. 

The Million has always been in the cards for Flaxman Holdings’ Smoking Sun (Smart Strike), who has made the majority of his starts at Saturday’s 10-furlong distance. A listed winner at two and three, the homebred won the G2 Prix d’Harcourt in his first start this season (video) and was most recently a sneaky good second to Dan Excel (Ire) (Shamardal) in the G1 Singapore Airlines International Cup in May (video). He is a half-brother to the dam of GI United Nations S. winner and GI Sword Dancer Invitational candidate Main Sequence (Aldebaran) and is a major factor. 

The globetrotting Side Glance (GB) (Passing Glance {GB}) returns to try to improve on his third to Real Solution (Kitten’s Joy) last season. Upset winner of last year’s G1 Mackinnon S. at the Melbourne Cup Carnival, he was a sneaky-good fifth in Singapore and was third last time out in the U.N., holding well after somewhat surprisingly setting the pace from the outside post. He’s far from impossible as the longest-priced of the three raiders. 

BEVERLY D. S.-GI, $750,000, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 3/16mT 
While there is nothing from overseas that would compare to last year’s winner Dank (GB) (Dansili {GB}), the trio signed on this time around brings substantial class to the Beverly D. Qatar Racing and Swettenham Stud’s Just the Judge (Ire)(Lawman {Fr}) will be easily the most-fancied off third-place runs behind Thistle Bird (GB) (Selkirk) in the G3 Princess Elizabeth S. June 6 (video) and in the G1 Pretty Polly S. June 29 (video). She should take plenty of play, though is anything but a slam dunk in a field with six Grade/Group 1 winners. 

Team Valor’s 3-year-old filly Euro Charline (GB) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) was a decent fifth in the G1 English 1000 Guineas May 4 and gave an excellent account of herself in the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot June 20, finishing a length back in third after lacking some room (video). The one-time 800gns yearling exits a convincing victory in Ascot’s Valiant S. July 25 (video), earning a crack at her elders here. Though no sophomore filly has ever won the ‘D,’ Necklace (GB) and Melhor Ainda rounded out the triple in 2004 and 2005, respectively. 

Augustin Stable’s Sparkling Beam (Ire) (Nayef) looks to have her work cut out for her, with a 20-1 upset of the 2013 G3 Prix Chloe her career best effort. Augustin’s Alice Springs was runner-up to Possibly Perfect in the 1995 Beverly D. 

SECRETARIAT S.-GI, $500,000, 3yo, 1 1/4mT 
Aidan O’Brien also has two Secretariat victories to his credit, courtest of Ciro (Woodman) in 2000 and Treasure Beach (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in 2011. He accounts for both of the colts in this year’s renewal, of which Adelaide (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is clearly the most accomplished and likely race favorite. A maiden winner in a single juvenile appearance, the son of GSW & G1SP Elletelle (Ire) (Elnadim) landed the G3 Gallinule S. May 25 (video) before runner-up efforts in the G2 King Edward VII S. at Royal Ascot June 20 (video) and in the GI Belmont Derby July 5 (video), failing to capitalize on perfect trips in both spots. Ryan Moore, who has rides in each of the day’s four big races, has the call. 

Belasarius (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) makes his final start for O’Brien, and will race here for Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable and Brous Stable. A maiden winner over the Dundalk all-weather Apr. 25, the half-brother to Hong Kong Derby winner and G1 Hong Kong Cup runner-up Collection (Ire) (Peintre Celebre) was most recently second in the Listed Lenebane S. going 12 furlongs at Roscommon July 7 (video). 

AMERICAN ST. LEGER S.-Listed, $400,000, 3yo/up, 
1 11/16mT 
Dandino (GB) (Dansili {GB}) gave his sire one of two wins from a near-impossible position at last year’s Festival (video) and will try to repeat the dose, with Frankie Dettori taking over from Ryan Moore. Runner-up in the 2013 G1 Caulfield Cup and a good fifth in the G1 Melbourne Cup, the 7-year-old is looking to improve on sixth-place finishes in the G2 Hardwicke S. at Royal Ascot June 21 and in the G2 Prince of Wales’ S. at Newmarket July 10. 

Moment In Time (Ire) (Tiger Hill {Ire}) takes a crack against the boys and has excelled at distances beyond this extended 13 furlongs. Though she is winless since annexing the G3 Pinnacle S. at Haydock last June, the bay 5-year-old was beaten just three lengths when fourth in the G2 Dubai Gold Cup on World Cup night Mar. 29 (video). She exits a runner-up effort in Newbury’s Chalice S. less than two weeks ago. 

Havana Beat (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) has some class questions to answer, but proved he stays this trip and further in the Listed Coral Marathon July 5 (video). 

Eye of the Storm (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), third in the G3 British Champions Long Distance Cup over two miles last October, could have something to say about the outcome here if he can reproduce his winning form from the G3 Ballyroan S. (video) contested just last week.