Arlington Million Contenders Race at York

With four weeks to go until the running of the Arlington Million, one of the most intriguing turf prep races takes place this weekend at York Racecourse in England, with the Group 2, 1 1/4 miles York Stakes on Saturday. The York Stakes will bring together no less than six European Group 1 winners, at least four of whom could be making an appearance in the Million on August 17, 2013, to be run at the same 1 ¼ miles distance on the Arlington turf course.

Hunter's Light looks for second major turf score

The list of York/Arlington contenders includes Godolphin Stable’s Hunter’s Light, an Irish-bred Group 1 winner on the synthetic in Dubai, as well as on turf in Italy. Also expected to come back for a third try at the Arlington Million – depending on how he comes out of the York – is Wigmore Hall, who finished seventh in last year’s Million and fourth in 2011. The two-time winner of the Grade I (Can.) Northern Dancer Turf Stakes is looking to get back on track in the York after two lackluster performances this spring at Newmarket.

Unbridled Command tries UK turf for the first time

One of the two other potential starters in the Arlington Million also in the York field is the New York-bred Unbridled Command, a horse that has raced 11 times in the US – including a victory in the Grade I Hollywood Derby at Hollywood Park last November – but who does his training in England. He’ll be facing the second-place finisher from that race once again in Grandeur, the fourth of the possible York-Arlington shippers.  Beaten in the Hollywood Derby, Grandeur came back month later to claim the Grade II Hollywood Turf  Cup, over a field that included American turf star Optimizer.