A field of 13 line up for Saturday’s Arlington Million (G1) (photo credit: arlingtonpark.com)
(Updated after scratch of Scottish) The Aiden O’Brien trained Deauville heads a field of 12 that will line up on Saturday in the $1 million Arlington Million (G1), with a fees-paid trip to the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) up for grabs.
Deauville shipped to the U.S. last year and ran a close up third in the Arlington Million for O’Brien, who won the Million in 2005 with Powerscourt and with Cape Blanco in 2011. Powerscourt crossed the wire in front in 2004 but was disqualified for interference in the stretch.
The colt is one of three Euro invaders and is the 7-2 morning line favorite. The other Euros are Mekhtaal (9-2) a Group 1 winner in France and Fanciful Angel (30-1) who looks outclassed.
The Arlington Million is a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Turf. Also on the card is the $600,000 Beverly D. (G1) which is a “Win and You’re In” race for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1).
The Beverly D. drew a field of 10 led by a trio that will be saddled by trainer Chad Brown including Dacita (4-1), who has lost three in a row since taking the Diana (G1) last July at Saratoga.
The $400,000 Secretariat (G1) for three-year-olds on turf drew a compact field of six led by Oscar Performance (8-5), last fall’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) winner.
The $250,000 American St. Leger (G3), $100,000 Pucker Up (G3) and $75,000 Bruce D. Memorial fill out an outstanding 12-race card on tap that kicks off at 12:15 CT. The two Breeders’ Cup Challenge races will be televised on the NBC Sports Network.
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 6:19 CT
5 Deauville 7-2
8 Kasaqui 10-1
12 Ascend 10-1
13 Mekhtaal 9-2
Deauville makes his second trip to the U.S. here for the Aiden O’Brien barn that has won this race twice and had Powerscourt DQ’d in 2004. Last summer the colt came across the pond as a three-year-old and won the Belmont Derby (G1) and instead of going in the Secretariat ran in this race where he was a game third, beaten a half-length at 8-1. He has won just a Group 3 in six starts this year but was a good third in the Queen Anne Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot two back at a mile and was beaten just a head last out in the Meld Stakes (G3) at Leopardstown at nine furlongs. He has landed in the money in all six trips at today’s distance and looks primed for a top effort and good to See Ryan Moore in to ride this guy.
Kasaqui just missed in this race last year, beaten a neck at 12-1. He won the Arlington Handicap (G3) last year leading into this race and this year ran a close up third with a good late run that should set him up for a good effort here. He won the Wise Dan (G2) two back at Churchill Downs going 1 1/16 miles. He has bene best at 1 ¼ miles, landing in the exacta in six of seven trips. His best puts him in the mix here and the 10-1 morning line looks more than fair.
Ascend wheels back pretty quick for the Motion barn. The gelding tracked the early pace and weakened to finish fourth in the Bowling Green (G2) on July 29. The gelding won the Manhattan (G1) two back earning a career top speed fig. He has landed in the exacta in 9 of his 13 career starts on turf and his best puts him in the mix here.
Wagering:
WIN: Deauville to win at 3-1 or better.
EXACTA: 5,8 / 5,8,12,13
TRIFECTA: 5,8 / 5,8,12,13 / 5,8,11,12,13
Get Michael’s Best Plays Report each Saturday which will include all of the U.S. based Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” races from now to October and Michael Dempsey’s 2-Day Breeders’ Cup Report.
Michael’s two-day Breeders’ Cup Report includes his selections, analysis, fair odds line, and wagering recommendations for every race on the two-day championship event from Del Mar on Nov. 3-4.
