Arlington barn notes....

FATE FIGURES WITH PHOENIX REACH’S OWNER
Irish-bred Phoenix Reach – one of the premier European candidates for Saturday’s Arlington Million XXIV – is owned by English-based Andrew Christou, who races in the nom-de-course of Winterbeck Manor Stud.

Christou made his first visit to Arlington Park Wednesday morning to watch Phoenix Reach accomplish his latest gallop over the main track with Steve Woolley in the irons. His bay 6-year-old charge – winner of the 2003 Grade I Canadian International, the 2004 Group I Hong Kong Vase and the 2005 Grade I Dubai Sheema Classic – will be making his first start in just over a year in Saturdays’ Grade I Million.

“I’m quite young in the business,” said Christou, “but, fortunately, we’ve been very successful. We can’t have a big setup where we are (Vale of Belvoir in Lincolnshire) but we have about 12 mares and have invested millions in youngsters trying to get good mares that way.

“I believe in fate and I believe in dreams –and I dreamed we were going to get the three post in the draw today,” said Christou later in the day immediately after the post position draw. “It got down to the last two post positions and we drew the six and Ace drew the three, but that’s all right, because we have a half-sister to Ace at home, so maybe that’s why I dreamed about the three post. It’s a good situation for me even if Ace were to win instead of us.

“Andrew (Balding, Phoenix Reach’s trainer) believes in dreams, too,” Christou said. “Before one of Phoenix Reach’s winning races in the Orient, Andrew had a dream that his bridle would break, so we put his blinkers on inside the bridle. His bridle did break in that race, but the blinkers stayed on, because we had put them on inside. If his blinkers had come off, we would have been disqualified. So we all believe in dreams.

“Also, I once had an Indian astrologer tell me that Phoenix Reach would become a great horse, as long as we never ran him at home,” Christou said. “Well, he was bred in Ireland, so that’s why we never have run him in Ireland.”

SHOWING UP’S OWNERS (ALSO BARBARO’S) ARRIVE AT ARLINGTON FRIDAY
Lael Stables’ Showing Up, 7-5 morning line favorite for Saturday’s Grade I Secretariat Stakes following his impressive three and a quarter-length tally the $1,000,000 Colonial Cup in Virginia June 24, will leave from the rail in the $400,000 leg of Arlington’s Mid-America Triple.

Lael Stables’ ownership duo of Roy and Gretchen Jackson, who also own this year’s injured Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, will be making their first visit to Arlington Park to watch Showing Up run in the Secretariat, restricted to 3-year-olds of international grass caliber.

"We’ve never been to Arlington Park before,” said Gretchen Jackson, speaking over the phone from their West Grove, Pennsylvania, home early Wednesday afternoon, “but we’ve always heard how really great it is, and we’re really looking forward to seeing it for the first time. We just got back from Saratoga last night. I guess the rail will be all right in a field of six, but you never know in racing. Hopefully, Showing Up will run as well as he did in Virginia.

“Barbaro continues to be a good patient,” Mrs. Jackson said. “I feel so sorry for him. He wants to live and he’s really trying hard. He can do everything but talk. You can see when he gets tired he likes to lean on his sling a little bit, like he’s saying: ‘Ah, this feels a little better this way. I think I’ll try this for awhile.’ He is very special and we’re all hoping he can come through this. He wants to, and we love him, so knock on wood.”

EUROPEANS ON TRACK WEDNESDAY
Joining Winterbeck Manor Stud’s Phoenix Reach on the main track Wednesday morning during training hours – and also merely for light exercise – was Saturday’s Grade I Arlington Million XXIV candidate Touch of Land, owned by Gary Tanaka, with Bernard Mion up.

French-bred Touch of Land, trained by Henri-Alex Pantall, won France’s Group III Grand Prix de Vichy at the Vichy course in his last start, and is a veteran of last summer’s Arlington Million, where he finished fifth, beaten less than six lengths, despite being caught behind horses turning into the stretch. He also finished 11th in the 2003 Million as a sophomore.

Saturday’s European-based Grade I Beverly D. candidate Rising Cross, also owned by Tanaka but a British-bred who finished third in the Group I Irish Oaks at The Curragh in her last start July 16, stretched her legs under regular exercise rider Christie Skippen, who later expressed happiness with Rising Cross’s Beverly D. draw in post position four.

Irish-based Aidan O’Brien International Festival of Racing candidates Ace, an Arlington Million starter owned by Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Mrs. Harry McCalmont, galloped on the main track under John Frain, and Grade I Secretariat starter Ivan Denisovich, owned by Mrs. Magnier, Tabor, and Irving and Marjorie Cowan, had Antoine Bouts astride.

O’Brien head traveling lad Pat Keating said following the draw for International Festival of Racing post positions that he was very happy with both Ace’s Million draw at post position three and Ivan Denisovich’s Secretariat draw at post position five.

Update 2,735, 972 from DRF..... :D


No European world-beaters in this Million :mad:
By ALAN SHUBACK

There will be some familiar European faces lining up for the Arlington Million on Saturday, but neither they nor any of the newcomers rate as highly as recent winners Sulamani or Powerscourt. The Beverly D., in direct competition with this past Saturday's Nassau Stakes, in which Ouija Board and Alexander Goldrun set Goodwood alight, has attracted only a single European-trained 3-year-old filly, one who will be making her first start against older females. In the Secretariat, we will see a Breeders' Cup Juvenile also-ran who has not won a race in 13 months and an intriguing Giant's Causeway colt who should make his presence felt.
Arlington Million

Touch of Land needs no introduction to Arlington regulars. Eleventh behind the victorious Sulamani in the Million three years ago as a 3-year-old, Touch of Land returned to Chicago last year to finish an improved fifth behind Powerscourt. Like last year, he is coming off a win in the Group 3 Grand Prix de Vichy. Perhaps more importantly from a form standpoint, he has won the last two runnings of the Prix Dollar, one of France's better Group 2 contests. Can Touch of Land be third-time lucky? A late-running third or fourth is more likely.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained Ace showed a liking for American racing when he was third in last fall's Turf Classic at Belmont and an even better second in the Breeders' Cup Turf. Disappointing in his first three starts this year, the 5-year-old Ace seemed to be coming around in his last try, when he was second over an inadequate mile in a Group 3 at the Curragh. A horse who likes a fast pace on firm ground, he is likely to enjoy the conditions of the Million. But players must choose between the Ace who has been off form all year and the Ace who may remember that he is back in America where, like ex-stablemate Powerscourt, he runs his best.

At 124, Phoenix Reach has a higher Timeform rating than any of Arlington's other European invaders. Trouble is, he hasn't run since finishing up the track in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes in July 2005. Trainer Andrew Balding has been pointing the 6-year-old Phoenix Reach to the Million since he got him back in training late this spring after a long spell on the sidelines because of a leg injury that nearly forced his retirement. At his best, he would be competitive, but it is doubtful Phoenix Reach will be at his best on Saturday. Moreover, his big international victories in the Canadian International, the Hong Kong Vase, and the Dubai Sheema Classic all came at 1 1/2 miles.

Soldier Hollow appears to be the best 10-furlong horse among the visitors. From the barn of Germany's leading trainer, Peter Schiergen, the 6-year-old Soldier Hollow hasn't been facing the quality of competition some of his Million rivals have this year, but he appears to be sitting on a big race. Twice the winner of Italy's best late-season event for older horses, the 1 1/4-mile Premio Roma, he has been first or second in 10 of his 12 tries at the Million distance and may be the value play.

Beverly D.

After chasing home the redoubtable Alexandrova in the English Oaks despite having taken a frightening stumble at the eighth pole, Rising Cross ran eighth in the Italian Oaks before bouncing back to form and finishing third behind Alexandrova in the Irish Oaks. Now, however, she is cutting back to 1 3/16 miles and facing older fillies and mares for the first time. She is likely to find the pace at Arlington too quick, the distance too short, and the competition too tough.

Secretariat


By the great Danehill, the O'Brien-trained Ivan Denisovich has seemed disinclined to make a peak effort this year and appears to be a classic case of a fine 2-year-old who simply didn't improve at 3. Anyone who thinks he will better himself in his first try beyond 1 1/16 miles may want to try him, but it would probably be money spent unwisely.

Primary, on the other hand, is a horse to whom attention should be paid. Lightly raced and improving, this son of Giant's Causeway is 2 for 2 at the Secretariat distance. The winner of the Group 3 Sandown Classic Trial in his seasonal debut off a 6 1/2-month absence, he was fifth in the Chester Vase next time out, but that can be discounted because it came at 1 1/2 miles, a distance that is just too long for him.

Primary was sent to Milan last time to prepare for the Secretariat and ran to expectations, loving the firm ground to rally off a fast pace in winning a competitive listed race. Expect him to be tracking the early pace in midpack and to close with a rush.

From TT.....



Posted: 8/9/2006 6:12:55 PM

Fallon banned from riding in Arlington Million

A Wednesday ruling by Arlington Park stewards denied the license application of English champion rider Kieren Fallon in Saturday's Arlington Million Stakes (G1), because Fallon is facing criminal charges in England.
Fallon was listed as the rider of Ace (Ire) in the Arlington Million, and also was listed as the rider on Ivan Denisovich (Ire) in the Secretariat Stakes (G1) when entries were drawn on Wednesday.

Both horses are trained by Aidan O'Brien, the Irish trainer who had Fallon in the saddle when he won last year's Arlington Million with Powerscourt (GB).

Fallon and several others involved in racing in various capacities were charged with conspiring to defraud bettors and had their licenses revoked in England in July after a London police investigation of more than 80 races from December 1, 2002 through September 2, 2004.

Despite the revocation in England, Fallon has continued to ride in Ireland and France. The racing jurisdictions there are not honoring the suspension on the premise that an accused person is innocent until proven guilty.

However, Illinois Racing Board rules mandate that suspensions from other jurisdictions be honored at the state's tracks. According to the stewards' ruling: "Mr. Fallon's presence on the grounds of any facility under the jurisdiction of the Illinois Racing Board calls into question the honesty and integrity of horse racing due to his current indictment in England of conspiracy to defraud."—Neil Milbert

Everyone is forgetting about Touch of Land.

Not me, I am all over this horse, but I am most likely boxing an exacta and playing the pick three/four four deep so i am not technically ON HIM per say but he will be included.

Last year he was 30/1 ML and was like 10/1 odds when the line opened up, I can't find last years Million's tape but I forsure remember him making a MONSTER move and PVal getting stuck, hopefully they show it at Arlington on Saturday morning. he might even get some win money once I see how his TG's stand up

He's got an interesting pedigree... I like him, but I need to look at little deeper into it tonight.

This is shaping up to be the race of the year in the US.

I read about Phoenix reach but I cannot take a horse that has been off for a year.

Question: Do the outside posts that EC and Cacique drew make a big difference at the ARlington configuration? It looks like they lose a little ground with the start being right before the end of the turn. They of course have the whole track to position themselves properly after that... any comments?

No, you want to be outside...If you get the 1 or 2 hole, you only have about 100 feet until you hit the rail, so you either GUN or break two lengths late to try and get position

Makes physical sense. Its hard to tell from a little picture at the top of PP's. Ive watched the race a number of times before, just could not remember the start. Thanks.

Dwyer's flight canceled..... trying again tomorrow.

Barn notes from Arlington...


‘PHOENIX’ JOCKEY DWYER’S FLIGHT CANCELLED – TRYING AGAIN FRIDAY
The mass murder terrorist plot – hopefully thwarted in its entirety at London’s Heathrow airport Thursday morning – has caused numerous travel changes in the plans of some major European players for Arlington Park’s International Festival of Racing Saturday.

Among them – the cancellation of English jockey Martin Dwyer’s Thursday flight from England for his scheduled mount on Winterbeck Manor Stud’s Phoenix Reach in Saturday’s 24th running of the Arlington Million.

Dwyer, 31, born in Liverpool, is tentatively scheduled on an alternate flight leaving England at 7:55 a.m. London time Friday morning, but with the nature of international airline traffic under present circumstances, that flight would be far from a certainty. In June, Dwyer won the Group I Epsom Derby aboard Sir Percy, but Phoenix Reach owner Andrew Christou is a great believer in fate – as well as positive thinking.

“Whatever is going to happen is going to happen,” said Christou Thursday morning, moments after Phoenix Reach was clocked in a half-mile grass breeze in :54 while the “dogs” were well out from the rail. “Yesterday, I thought we wanted to draw post position three, but now that we’ve got post six, I’ve been told that the middle of the field is a better place to be, so maybe that worked out in our favor.

“Phoenix Reach is not an easy horse to ride,” Christou said. “You can’t just set any American jockey on him and expect him to know all the horse’s little habits, but these things are outside our control. All we can do is assume that everything will work out for the best. That way, it usually does.”

Phoenix Reach accomplished his breeze with splits of :16, and :43, and then finished up in 1:06 3/5. “The last eighth was very impressive,” said Illinois State clocker Bobby Belpedio. “He looks very fit and racy.”

“I thought he went very well,” said Phoenix Reach’s trainer Andrew Balding on the way back to the barn after the move. “The only concern I have is that he was a little bit on the fresh side. He runs best when fresh – but I just hope he’s not too fresh.”

“He was nice and relaxed the first part of it,” said Belpedio, concerning that possible scenario. “I don’t know the horse, but he wasn’t rank. He wasn’t too much ‘on the bit’ even though he was dropped in along the rail. He knew he was going to work.”

RENE DOUGLAS DOING HOMEWORK FOR SATURDAY’S MILLION, BEVERLY D.
Arlington Park’s legendary rider Rene Douglas, the only jockey in history to win four straight Arlington riding championships, gets another chance to win his first Grade I Arlington Million this Saturday with the mount aboard Gestut Park Wiedingen’s Soldier Hollow.

Twice, Douglas has been extremely close in past renewals of Arlington’s centerpiece event, and in one of those times, his evasive actions might have cost him the race while saving Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens’ life.

“I had to put myself in his (Stevens’) position,” Douglas said of that sacrifice in the 2003 Arlington Million. “That could have been me on the ground. As it turned out, Gary got hurt badly anyway, but it would have been a lot worse if I’d allowed my horse to stay straight. There is no horse race in the world that is that important.

“Soldier Hollow’s trainer (German-born Peter Schiergen) is giving me a DVD today (Thursday) of all his horse’s races, as well as those of some of the other European horses,” said Douglas. “So I’ve got my homework cut out for me to do later today.”

British-bred Soldier Hollow, who finished second by a neck in his last start in Germany’s Group II Pferdewetten.de Trophy Stakes at the Cologne course June 18, and before that was second by a length in Italy’s Group I Premio Presidente della Repubblica at the Capannelle course on May 14.

Soldier Hollow breezed five furlongs on the main track Thursday morning in 1:06.80, with exercise rider Renata Poloprutska astride. During morning training hours, trainer Schiergen walked the turf course and pronounced it as “good ground,” and that any additional rain would make it “even better.”

“I’m excited to have another chance in the Million,” Douglas said, “and I also get to ride Royal Copenhagen – Mr. ‘D.’s horse – in the (Grade I) Beverly D., so this is going to be a great day for me. I think she’s going to give a very good account of herself in the Beverly D.”

ARLINGTON MILLION’S MAJOR RHYTHM A MAJOR LONG SHOT TO SALUTE
Longshot lovers can consider James Messineo’s Major Rhythm, winner of Arlington’s Grade III Stars and Stripes Breeders’ Cup Turf July 2, as worthy of a long look at 30-1 in the morning line.

“He worked good (breezed a half on the turf in :52 Wednesday with the “dogs” out),” said Major Rhythm’s trainer Ed Beam Thursday, “and he came back good. I’ll tell you one thing – he will not embarrass himself Saturday.”

I will be more than happy to ride Phoenix Reach. I can be up there tonight. :D

Great!

ArlJim can ride Ace and you get Mr. Reach!

What!!!??? I thought you liked Ace and wanted him to win. You put me on his back and I guarantee he'd be all out of gas before the end of the warm-up and he will forever have lost interest in racing.

Let's just say I'd have a wee bit of trouble making the weight.

Me too... I would need to drop 30 lbs to get down to 100lbs. :o

I love Ace..... my favorite horse now that Rakti and Powerscourt are off doing the baaaad thing. :D

His chances went from being 100 percent with Fallon to, well..... 99 percent so was thinking you could ride him and after the race? Come pick me up and together we'd ride him off into the sunset. :p

Works for me. :D

From Arlington barn notes...

Barn NotesRiders Named for Aidan O’Brien-Trained Horses

RIDERS NAMED FOR AIDAN O’BRIEN-TRAINED HORSES
According to Arlington Park racing officials, Garrett Gomez has been named to ride Ace (Ire) in Saturday’s Arlington Million, and John Velazquez will ride Ivan Denisovich (Ire) in the Secretariat Stakes.

Nonsense Dahlink! You're perfect. :cool:

Always beware the German horses because they are usually live and if you aren't careful, will totally screw you. I haven't decided who I like for this race yet. I know that it is going to be one hell of a race though. It is all going to be all about the pace and position. Whoever handicaps this race right gets props. This is a quality, quality field.

Anyone else like Primary?

Oo la la, now you're talking, no way do I pass up that offer.;)

I'll let Gomez handle the racing part of it, after the victory photo, I'll take it from there.

Btw, I think the selection of Gomez is a good one. I'm thinking he has a big chance to take it.

I just saw your post on the bragging rights thread and since everyone is behaving and just making picks, I'll say it here...

I LOVE YOU! :D

Ooops! i mean oh look! You picked Ace too. How nice. :p