By Alan Carasso
Four of the eight runners entered for Saturday's GI Northern Dancer Turf S. exit the GI Arlington Million Aug. 13, and although his starting price figures the tallest of the quartet come post time, Danish Dynaformer (Dynaformer) has the credentials to post a mild upset.
Winner of the 2015 Breeders' S. over this course and distance, Charles Fipke's homebred, a heavily bet sixth in this event last term, defeated 2014 Million hero Hardest Core (Hard Spun) to win the GIII Singspiel S. two back, and made the most of a ground-saving trip after a bobble at the start in the Million, closing his final quarter-mile in :22.62 to finish fifth, beaten 1 1/2 lengths.
“If he hadn't bobbled at the start he would have been right there, for sure,” said trainer Roger Attfield. “He never could make up all that ground; he made up some of it.”
The Pizza Man (English Channel), fifth as the chalk in the 2014 Northern Dancer, is in search of his first victory this season and was just behind Danish Dynaformer at Arlington, with a final two furlongs in :22.54. World Approval (Northern Afleet) and Wake Forest (Ger) (Sir Percy {GB}) will both try to make amends here, having disappointed in seventh and 10th, respectively, in Chicago.
Big Blue Kitten (Kitten's Joy) has one previous try over this course and distance, a runner-up effort behind Hillstar (GB) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) in the 2014 GI Canadian International S. The 2015 Million runner-up, the Calumet Farm runner bypassed that race this year and exits an even sixth to stablemate Flintshire (GB) (Dansili {GB}) in the GI Manhattan S. at Belmont Park June 11.
Majeed (GB) (Mount Nelson {GB}), a lightly raced 6-year-old, represents the David Simcock stable, who annexed this race two years ago with Sheikhzayedroad (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).
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