A field of 10 will line up for Saturday’s Arlington Million (G1) (photo credit: arlingtonpark.com)
Century Dream leads a trio of Europeans invading Arlington Park on Saturday for the historic $1 million Arlington Million (G1), one of three Grade 1 races on an outstanding 12-race card on Saturday.
The Arlington Million serves as a “Win and You’re In” race for the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) on Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs. Eleven were earned with a field of 10 going to the post. Divisidero will scratch to run at Saratoga in the Fourstardave Handicap (G1).
Century Dream (12-1) is coming off a pair of fourth place finishes at Ascot and is going to offer decent value in the race. Fellow European Deauville (6-1) has finished third in the last two editions of this race but has lost his last 10 starts.
The best hope for the home team is Oscar Performance (3-1), who comes into the race off a victory in the Poker (G3) which was off the bench. The Brian Lynch trainee won the Secretariat (G1) over the turf course here last summer.
The Grade 1 action starts with the $400,000 Secretariat, a 1 ¼ miles test on turf for three-year-olds that drew a wide-open field of 13 including five Euro invaders.
Analyze It will be saddled by Chad Brown and is coming off two tough losses to Catholic Boy in the Pennine Ridge (G3) and Belmont Derby (G1).
Brown will send out four runners in the $600,000 Beverly D at 1 3/16 miles for fillies and mares. The race is a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1).
Among Brown’s quartet is Sistercharlie, who won the Diana (G1) in her last outing. In her previous start she was beaten a head by her stablemate Fourstar Crook, who also is in eth Beverly D. field.
Aiden O’Brien saddles Athena, who won the Belmont Oaks Invitational (G1) in her U.S. debut and will have Ryan Moore aboard again.
Let’s head out to Arlington Park for Saturday’s featured race of the day:
Arlington Park Race 11 The Arlington Million (G1) Post time 6:08 CT
5 Century Dream 12-1
10 Robert Bruce 9-2
11 Oscar Performance 3-1
8 Money Multiplier 6-1
Century Dream is one of three Euro invaders in the field this guy sent out by the Simon Crisford barn and is reunited with William Buick who was aboard him for his last two wins and a good fourth at Royal Ascot. Last out the colt tracked the early pace, took over the lead and did not have enough left late weakening to finish fourth at Ascot in the Summer Mile Stakes (G2). His fourth two back in the Queen Anne Stakes (G1) was solid. He had the lead late at 20-1 and could not sustain his bid but was only beaten ¾ of a length. He acts better on ground with some give to it which he likely will not get today but this turf course is more honest than most in the U.S. The distance is a question mark. He has a win at 1 ¼ miles but was against weaker at Newbury back in the fall of ’17. Like the fact Buick makes the trip and the 12-1 morning line looks fair enough.
Robert Bruce was perfect in his six starts in his native Chile including four Group 1 races and after landing in the Chad Brown barn he won the Ft. Marcy (G3) at nine furlongs in his U.S. debut off a six-month layoff. The colt stepped up into Grade 1 company in the Manhattan where he came for home and was bumped around in the stretch, checking in sixth but beaten just a length for the top spot. He is proven at the distance and a cleaner trip makes him a major threat here for the Brown barn that won this race last year with Beach Patrol.
Oscar Performance is coming off a career top speed figure winning the one-mile Poker (G3) at Belmont Park in his first start off a seven-month layoff. The Brian Lynch trainee is seeking to become the first runner to complete the Secretariat-Million Double. The win here last year was his third win in a row and now he comes into this race in the sharpest form of his career. He is perfect in his two starts at 1 ¼ miles and the main knock here is the outside post and possibility of a light price.
Wagering:
WIN: #5 to win at 8-1 or better.
EXACTA: 5,10 / 5,8,10,11
TRIFECTA: 5,10 / 5,8,10,11 / 5,8,9,10,11
