11 pre-entered for the Arlington Million
 

From DRF.....


Million lures 11 pre-entries
By MARCUS HERSH

CHICAGO - Eleven horses, four Europeans and seven Americans, have been pre-entered in the Arlington Million, which will be contested along with two other Grade 1 turf stakes on Saturday at Arlington Park.
There were no surprises among the pre-entries - though Arlington-based Major Rhythm, who figures to be the longest price in the race, only entered the picture on Friday - but some uncertainty remains about the final shape of the Million field. Todd Pletcher pre-entered both English Channel and Go Deputy, but plans on sending one of the horses while keeping the other home in New York. Arlington racing officials would love to get English Channel, a multiple Grade 1 winner, but last week Pletcher appeared to favor Go Deputy for the Million, while English Channel could race at Saratoga in the Sword Dancer Handicap. Go Deputy comes off a win in the Bowling Green Handicap, but is far less accomplished than his stablemate.

With English Channel or without, the 2006 Million is at least solid, if short of spectacular. The pre-entries, in alphabetical order, are: Ace, Better Talk Now, Cacique, Cosmonaut, English Channel, Go Deputy, Major Rhythm, Phoenix Reach, Soldier Hollow, The Tin Man, and Touch of Land.

Phoenix Reach, a globetrotting Group 1 winner who hasn't raced in more than a year, arrived here Thursday from England. Ace, who finished second in the 2005 Breeders' Cup Turf, and Touch of Land, who makes his third Million appearance, were both scheduled to arrive Sunday. The German-based Soldier Hollow is booked to arrive Monday.

The Tin Man will be the lone West Coast representative, the connections of Aragorn and Sweet Return, considered possible starters more than a week ago, having decided to point elsewhere. The Tin Man, an 8-year-old, finished sixth in the 2003 Million.

East Coast-based horses due to arrive Thursday include Better Talk Now, fourth in the 2005 Million, and Cacique, who won the Manhattan Handicap and was beaten a half-length by English Channel last out in the Grade 1 United Nations.

Entries will be drawn and post positions assigned for the Million as well as the Secretariat and Beverly D. on Wednesday.


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So without GPK's boy, English Channel, it's 10.....

Were there pre-entries for the other races?

Ivan is coming!

Not seeing any news yet..... I'll keep looking SS. :)

Looks like a pretty solid field, gonna be missing a few of the top horses though in English Channel, Asahi Rising, Hurricane Run, and Ouija Board :)

thanks for being on top of things MMSC....your the best...

No problem and of course I'm gonna be on top of this..... hell, if i could fly out and be at the airport when He arrives on Sunday, i would. :p

Hey ArlJim..... you gonna be at the airport tomorrow? Just wondering... :D

Hey, if you were coming in and needed a ride, I'd be there. But if you're asking me to go over there and greet Aces' plane... well I think I've got a thing tomorrow. yeah that's it, a thing! :D

Greet his plane?????

Oh, you are SO sweet! Do you really think I'd ask you to do that though? Course not!

First, you'd have to call the local flower shop and make sure they can make a huge, floral arrangement. Not in the shape of a horse-shoe mind you... he's a tad peculiar that way. A four leaf clover would be good!

Next up, the peppermints! Go online and find those fine, fine peppermints from Ireland. A couple of dozen boxes should do.

The photographer! Almost forgot! Is there a world class photographer nearby? If not you'll have to fly one in.

Red carpet? Check!

Air purifier? I'll get on that.....

Damn, the plane! Call and make sure he's in first class. He doesn't care about that type of thing but I want him to be comfortable.

Let me think of what else I'd need you to do.....

Unless, of course, you want to break my heart. :D

My early season dream was to see Barbaro return to the turf in this race. He ran well on dirt, but I will forever believe he was maybe 10 lengths better on grass.

What is this guy, the diva of the equine world?

Elton John requires less pampering when he travels.

You remind me of him..... did I ever tell you that?

Does that help? :p

I love you both. :D

I like the Tin Man for the Million and Showing Up.

I am not predicting anything yet but so far I have a feeling that this Phoenix Cross horse might be live, along with a couple other Euros...I always pay attention to the German that comes because they always screw me

Theres Phoenix Reach and Rising Cross. Which do you mean?

Whatever the Phoenix horse is...

I'll know more once my guys get a look at them later this week. I might go Friday morning and Saturday morning to take a look.

Last year, I saw Powerscourt on Saturday morning on track, like 6am.....I went straight home and singled him on EVERY possible ticket, horse looked absolutely amazing

If English Channel shows up, he will win for fun, but he isn't coming so I am going towards the Euros

OH MAN...Just read that Douglas is getting on Soldier Hollow, German horse....

You could drop flower petals when he gets off the airplane. It might be a nice touch.

He was absolutely amazing.....

One of my favorites, even when no one thought he could (before / after the Scottish Derby, etc).

The only horse ever to win it TWICE.:cool:

That's a great idea and thank you.

I don't want ArlJim to have panic attacks or anything so I'll stop. He's actually very easy going..... no fanfare required although one, well..... I won't say it here.

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Don't forget to play the Arlington Million Turf Challenge (... all of you)!

http://www.arlingtonpark.com/amtc/

Stop? What do I do now with all these flower petals and peppermints?

Oh well, I still have another mission come Saturday.