Trainer Chad Brown is locked and loaded with contenders in the Arlington Park International Festival of Racing. (Photo credit: Arlington Park).
There are three Grade 1 turf races at Arlington Park on Saturday and trainer Chad Brown has his sights set on sweeping the trio of events that make up the International Festival of Racing.
In the three Grade 1 races, Brown will saddle three runners in the $600,000 Beverly D., two contenders in the $500,000 Secretariat, and will send out a pair of runners in the marquee event of the meeting, the $1 million Arlington Million.
Bricks and Mortar is the 8-5 morning line favorite for the Arlington Million. The five-year-old comes into the race riding a five-race winning streak, taking the Manhattan (G1) at Belmont Park in his last outing on June 8. Irad Ortiz Jr. has the return call.
Bet $200 Get $200 at TVG. Use coupon code GET200 during checkout. Expires 10/27/2019.
Brown will also send out defending champion Robert Bruce (7-2), looking to become the first horse in the history of the Million to win back to back editions. The great John Henry won the race twice, in 1981 and again in 1984.
Brown will be looking for his third consecutive victory in the Arlington Million. He won in 2017 with Beach Patrol.
The Million winner earns a fee-expenses paid trip to the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) as part of the Win and You’re In series of races.
Trainer Chad Brown has top contenders for Saturday’s three Grade 1 races at Arlington Park.
Last year Brown swept the top three places in the Beverly D, winning with Sistercharlie. Brown has won the last four editions of the race.
The winner of the Beverly D. stamps a ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1).
Sistercharlie Favorite for Beverly D.
Sistercharlie is the 8-5 morning line favorite for the Beverly D. The Brown trainee made her 2019 debut in the Diana (G1) at Saratoga where she won by 1 ¾ lengths. She won four of five starts last year including the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1).
Competitionofideas (6-1) was beaten a neck in her last two starts in the Matchmaker (G3) and New York (G2). She won the American Oaks (G1) last December at Santa Anita.
Thais (20-1) is Brown’s third runner in the Beverly D. The mare was sixth in the Diana in her last start. She has won just 1 of 9 starts since landing in the U.S. with Brown, beating second level allowance foes last May at Belmont Park.
In the Secretariat Brown ran second last year with Analyze It. The trainer won the race in 2016 with Beach Patrol.
Brown Sends Out Two in Secretariat
This year Brown will saddle Fog of War (3-1) and Valid Point (5-1) among the field of nine. Fog of War won the Summer (G1) last September at Woodbine in his second career start. The son of War Front was second in the Manila at Belmont Park in his last outing.
Valid Point is undefeated in two starts and makes his stakes debut. He broke his maiden in his debut at Gulfstream Park in February and beat first level optional claimers at Belmont Park in June in his first trip against winners.
The $100,000 Pucker Up (G3) completes an all-stakes Pick 4. Of course, Brown has a major contender. Café Americano (3-1) was sixth in the Belmont Oaks (G1) in her last start.
