Home Court Advantage for Million 33?

After Teleprompter (GB) won the GI Arlington Million–the so-called ‘Miracle Million’ following the fire that destroyed the grandstand in 1985–American-trained horses were successful in 10 of the next 12 runnings, a streak capped by Chester House (Mr. Prospector) in 2000. There was a dramatic shift in the course of the next 11 years, as horses trained outside of the United States prevailed on eight occasions, a number that could have been even higher were it not for the disqualification of Powerscourt (GB) (Sadler’s Wells) in 2004. But since Cape Blanco (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) proved a popular winner in 2011, the Million has been the property of the domestically based runners, including Hardest Core (Hard Spun), who surprised reigning GI Breeders’ Cup Turf hero Magician (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). With last year’s American St. Leger winner The Pizza Man (English Channel) likely to swing for the fences, a field of 13 middle-distance turfers are set to face the starter for the race that inaugurated in the era of seven-figure purses back in 1981.

On numbers alone, Team USA stands a good shot to hang on to the trophy, but there is quality there to back it up. Trainer Chad Brown, who saddled the promoted Real Solution (Kitten’s Joy) to win this two years ago, has three in the race, two of who go out for Real Solution’s owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey. A one-time claimer, Big Blue Kitten (Kitten’s Joy) has slightly better form going a bit further than Saturday’s 10-furlong distance and was a running-on second to stablemate Slumber (GB) (Dansili {GB}) when last seen at the trip in the GI Manhattan S. at Belmont June 6. The 7-year-old, winner of the GI Sword Dancer Invitational in 2013 going a mile and a half, atoned for his Manhattan defeat with a sound success over Slumber for a second win in the GI United Nations S. at 11 panels July 5. Shining Copper (Aragorn {Ire}), who was in the U.N. to set things up for Big Blue Kitten, took them into the final furlong before settling for third, and is back for pacesetting duties here.

Slumber, purchased as a racing prospect for $200,000 out of last year’s Keeneland November sale, added blinkers and snapped a 10-race losing streak when upsetting the Manhattan at 14-1, but was outfinished in the U.N., going down by 1 ½ lengths. He would prefer some pace to run into and his low draw could lead to an impeded journey, but he figures on the wire with on his best.

Triple Threat (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}) looks tailor made for this spot as he goes out for Bill Mott, who saddled Paradise Creek (Irish River {Fr}) to win the 1994 Million. Fourth as the favorite in the G1 Criterium International de Saint-Cloud in 2012, he was a dual Group 3 winner in France at three and was third to Smoking Sun (Smart Strike) in the G2 Prix d’Harcourt last term. He made his U.S. debut in the GII Monmouth S. when first-up for nine months and found traffic on the turn before switching out and streaking home in :34.56 per DRF Formulator to score by a nose. An intended runner in the GIII Arlington H., won by Quiet Force (Dynaformer), July 11, he missed that engagement, but shows up here and has the feel of a mid-range price chance.

By any estimation, it is a below-average trio of Euros in for this year’s Million, with Godolphin’s Maverick Wave (Elusive Quality) possessing the best chance at an upset. A four-time winner over British all-weather surfaces, the chestnut has two wins from six tries on the grass, including a half-length success in the G3 Huxley S. at Chester May 7. He’ll add Lasix here, stays the trip and his trainer/jockey team of William Buick and John Gosden upset the 2010 Million with Princess Haya’s Debussy (Ire) (Diesis {GB}).