I was quite pleased with my Arlington Million Day selections.
In the first race, my third choice, Uno Mas, finished a good second at 11-1 to the impressive first-out winner His Greatness, who opened as the favorite and paid $7.80 to win after being listed at 20-1 on the morning line. Obviously, the word was out on the winner.
In the second, my top pick, Deville, finished second at 7-2. My third pick, Loves Handles, won and paid $8.40. Loh Collado, my second pick, finished third.
In the third, the favorite ($6.60) won a wide-open maiden race. I had no pick and suggested the all button for horizontal players.
In the fourth, I said I was going to try and beat the morning-line favorite with Fabulous Babe and Return to Paradise. The latter won and paid $12.00.
In the fifth, I liked the Steve Asmussen-trained Four Gifts, who dueled for the early lead and then held sway, returning $29.20, $17.80 and $10.60 across the board. I noted that the two-year-old first-time starter sold for a strong price (compared to her pedigree) and hailed from one of the best juvenile programs in the country. She triggered a $586.60 exacta and a $4,299.40 trifecta. It doesn’t get any better than that.
In the sixth, my top choice, Tight Precision, finished second at 9-2. I noted that the winner, Lucky Copy, can’t be dismissed and should be used in the vertical exotics.
In the seventh, my top pick, Sebastian County, finished fifth at 3-1, but my second choice, Amazing Results, won and paid $8.20. My Longshot Special, In Nike’s Honor, finished second at 20-1.
In the eighth, I said I was going to try and beat Tizdejavu, the 6-5 morning line favorite in the Secretariat S. (G1) with the two Europeans — Plan and Winchester. The latter ran off in the lane like a good thing and paid $17.00 to win.
In the ninth, I took a stand against Dreaming of Anna, one of my all-time favorite fillies, in the Beverly D. S. (G1), and my second choice, Mauralakana, won, returning $6.80. My Longshot Special, Communique, finished second at nearly 13-1 and completed a $65.40 exacta.
In the tenth, the Arlington Million (G1), I really didn’t have any strong feelings. My Longshot Special, Stream Cat, was well backed but was unplaced at 5-1.
In retrospect, if I had paid more attention to the race, maybe I would have noticed the trip notes on the winner, Spirit One, who led gate to wire and paid $29.40. They read: Led to 120 yards; Led, clear halfway; Led to 70 yards; Prompted pace; Tracked in third; Tracked leader; Tracked leader to 1 1/2 furlongs out; Led to 200 yards; Led to over one furlong out.
As it turns out, a case could have been made that he was going to be the controlling speed regardless of what happened to Einstein. Also, it should be noted that two horses — Archipenko and Stream Cat — were locked-in a pocket with no where to go for most of the race. In this year’s Million, there was some serious race riding going on.
*****
In Saratoga Springs, it was 75 degrees with a dew point of 60 at 11:45 a.m. (EDT). However, storms are on the way and there is a good possibility that the four turf races, including the featured Yaddo H. and West Point H. for New York-breds, could be taken off the turf and be contested on an off main track.
*****
The sixth race, a maiden special for two-year-old fillies, looks much stronger than the second race, a maiden special for the boys. Some notes on some of the fillies in the sixth: Sara Louise, who sold for $550,000 at Calder, worked in :10 2/5; Officer Flirt, who sold for $125,000 at OBS March, worked in :10 1/5; Kays and Jays, who sold for $120,000 at Barretts March, worked in a bullet :10; Tasha’s Star, a half-sister to Grade 3 winner Tasha’s Miracle, sold for $300,000 at Barretts March, worked in :10 3/5 and then :10 2/5; and White Lamb, who sold for $550,000 at OBS March, worked in :10.
*****
In the tenth, all eyes will be on the Stan Hough-trained Discreet Treasure, who could not have been more impressive when breaking his maiden by 12 1/4 lengths in his debut on July 5 at Belmont Park. This colt could be something special and is worth a play at anything near his morning line odds of 5-2.
Tags: Arlington Million, Arlington Million selections, Beverly D., Discreet Treasure, Dreaming of Anna, handicapping, Saratoga selections, Saratoga spot plays, Saratoga Springs, Secretariat, Spirit One, The Joyce Report, Thoroughbred racing
