The defending champ is back in the field for the 2016 Arlington Million on Saturday, but he’s being overshadowed by a strong group of foreign invaders.
That group includes the morning line favorite in Tryster (7-2), who makes his North American debut and gets first-time lasix as well. He scored a Group 1 win earlier this year in Dubai and then started in a top-level event in the UK, running fifth at Ascot. The question of course is how he'll take to the Arlington turf, and if he'sready for his best after a lengthy time off.
Of the American hopes, World Approval (4-1) has shown steady improvment in his four-year-old season and ran a big one to win the United Nations Stakes at Monmouth in his last start. That came after third and second-place finishes in two previous Grade 1 tries, and a repeat of any of those performances would give him a big shot in this. If not for the outside post, the front-running Irish-bred Deauville might be better than the 6-1 ML listing he has, and it will be interesting to see where he breaks and how much horse jockey Seamie Heffernan will have to use to get to a forward postion.
The defending champ and fan favorite The Pizza Man (10-1) can't be counted out, but he has struggled in three races so far this season, and time may finally be catching up to him.
The Arlington Million goes Saturday, August 13 from Arlington Park. Post time is 6:09 PM Eastern.
OTB Illinois Picks
1) #11 World Approval
2) #13 Deauville
3) #12 Tryster
4) #5 The Pizza Man
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