By Brian DiDonato
With the Summer Olympics in full swing, Arlington Park stages its own sort of international competition Saturday, headlined by the 34th running of the GI Arlington Million–a “Win and You're In” qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf. Foreign-trained horses won three of four Millions from 2008 to 2011, but the American-based contingent has taken the last four renewals and is represented by nine of the 13 entrants this time. World Approval (Northern Afleet) is among Team U.S.A.'s best chances as he seeks his second-straight victory at the highest level. Bested by a neck in the GI Woodford Reserve Turf Classic S. at Churchill May 7, the Live Oak homebred finished third behind divisional leader Flintshire (GB) (Dansili {GB}) in the GI Man o' War S. at Belmont May 14. He broke through last time with a score in the Monmouth's July 3 GI United Nations S, finishing two spots ahead of favored Wake Forest (Ger) (Sir Percy {GB}).
Fan favorite The Pizza Man (English Channel) looks to defend his Million title, but doesn't seem to be in quite the form he was last year. The bay capped off a stellar 6-year-old season with a convincing score in the GII Hollywood Turf Cup S. at Del Mar in November, but resurfaced to finish fifth in the GI Gulfstream Park Turf H. Feb. 6. Coming with too little, too late when fourth in the GII Wise Dan S. in Louisville June 18, he checked in fourth–beaten just a head–in the local GIII Stars and Stripes S. July 9. Greengrassofyoming (Quest) won by a nose, with Pumpkin Rumble (English Channel) another nose back in third.
Kasaqui (Arg) (Lasting Approval), second in the Wise Dan, annexed the main prep for this, the GIII Arlington H. July 9. He completed his Argentinian career last summer with back-to-back romps at a similar distance to this one.
Tryster (Ire) (Shamardal) seems the main danger of the foreign raiders, and was installed the 7-2 favorite on the morning line. He took the Feb. 18 G3 Dubai Millennium S. and Mar. 5 G1 Jebel Hatta S. at Meydan, but came on too late in the G1 Dubai Turf Mar. 26 and settled for third. He gets first-time Lasix off a fifth place finish against tougher in Royal Ascot's G1 Prince of Wales's S. and his trainer Charlie Appleby has proven he can successfully ship to the States–the conditioner took the 2013 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf with Outstrip (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}).
Sophomore Deauville (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) would look doubly tough against runners his own age in the GI Secretariat S. two races earlier on this card, but the Coolmore contingent and Mrs. Fitri Hay have opted to take the tougher route. A Group 3 winner in Ireland and two-time Group 2-placed in Great Britain, the bay was 11th in the G1 Investec Derby at Epsom June 4. Marooned in the 13 post–where he will be again–Deauville tracked the pace, took over and held off a fast finisher to take the GI Belmont Derby July 9.
Well-traveled Mondialiste (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) has also already shown an affinity for North American racing. He flew home from last to take the GI Woodbine Mile over yielding sod last September, and found only superstar Tepin (Bernstein) too good in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile at Keeneland the following month. Well-beaten in December's G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile, May's G1 Prix d'Isphahan at Chantilly and behind Tepin in Royal Ascot's G1 Queen Anne S. in June, the David O'Meara pupil showed he could handle longer trips like this one with a runner-up effort in the G2 York S. over 10 1/2 panels July 23.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
