Arlington Million Has Wide-Open Field

If Little Mike is hoping to claim his second straight Arlington Million this Saturday at Arlington Park, he’s going to have to hold off a foreign invasion. Installed as the morning line 5-1 third choice in the 13-horse field, Little Mike will take on six European shippers, as well as one Argentinian in Indy Point, who came north last month and promptly won his first US race, the Wickerr Stakes at Del Mar. Indy Point is second choice in the ML at 9-2.

Grandeur shows a liking for US racing

The favorite for the 1 ¼ miles on the turf is the Irish-bred Grandeur. After winning a number of smaller stakes events in the UK, Grandeur showed up in California last summer and promptly put his stamp on US turf racing, winning the Grade II Twilight Derby, finishing second in the Grade I Hollywood Derby, and then winning the Grade II Hollywood Turf Cup. After that last he returned to the UK and took seven months off, before competing in a couple minor stakes events at York and Newmarket. Now he’s back to take a shot at the Million.

Winner punches ticket for BC Turf

Among the other contenders, Real Solution is a lightly-raced Pennsylvania bred who began his career in Italy, before returning to the States to most recently take a third-place finish in the Grade I Woodford Reserve Manhattan Handicap at Belmont. The Kentucky-bred Finnegan’s Wake is the son of 2005 Million winner Powerscourt, and has been going up against the toughest US turf competitors all year. In addition to claiming the Million title, the winner is also trying to claim a spot in the 2013 Breeders’ Cup Turf, as the race is a ‘Win and You’re In’ event.