8/13 (AP): Arlington Million, Beverly D., Secretariat (G1's)

[Scav]

I've gone through all three races and I'm against Cape Blanco, Stacelita and Treasure Beach.

Treasure Beach: In my opinion he needs more ground then 10 furlongs and he wants to be near the lead. The Arlington course has played well towards closers recently even into slow fractions and I fully expect him to get 'run off his feet' cause I don't see him being able to quicken.

Cape Blanco: Somewhat of the same opinion in that I truly think he wants more ground and he has zero turn of foot. The Million Pace should be fast, certainly sub 50 with Proceed Bee going to be sent. I am far from a Gio fan, matter fact I tried every which way not to use him, but I really feel this race is gonna be a perfect set up for him at a distance that is as far as he can go.

Stacelita: I think she is pace compromised in this race and I'm fully expecting River Jetez to be sitting 2nd/3rd and get first run. She was a great 3 year old and a good 4 year old but just think that she is gonna want longer distance and a cut in the ground and from all accounts it is gonna be firm on Saturday.

As of right now, for me, the decision that I'll be sleeping on is how to attack the card, blunt force drama (River Jetez / Gio DD which would be paying about $24) or to play the multi-races around it these races.

[jwkniska]

If it rains, I'm 100% against Gio. I agree with you on that I need to figure how to structure around River Jetez.

From what I've seen over the last couple of days, they're calling for rain Friday, into Saturday.

[NTamm1215]

I like River Jetez as well but I'm wondering why you think she's so much faster than Stacelita early. River Jetez ran really well in the Singapore International Cup but the pace in that race was glacial. The pace in the Dubai Duty Free was a bit stronger but the 3/4s was :14 and 4/5. She is hardly some kind of blazing speed horse.

Stacelita received an embarassingly bad ride in the UN last time. She has now been with Chad Brown for a month and is certainly going to have a bit more speed with an American training regimen. Her workout two back was not the type a horse who will be out-paced puts up. If Stacelita is beaten it will likely have more to do with her regressing in her 2nd start in America or River Jetez simply being better, but I don't know if I'd assume it will be because Stacelita is some plodder who will be outrun early.

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

I like River Jetez as well but I'm wondering why you think she's so much faster than Stacelita early. River Jetez ran really well in the Singapore International Cup but the pace in that race was glacial. The pace in the Dubai Duty Free was a bit stronger but the 3/4s was :14 and 4/5. She is hardly some kind of blazing speed horse.

Stacelita received an embarassingly bad ride in the UN last time. She has now been with Chad Brown for a month and is certainly going to have a bit more speed with an American training regimen. Her workout two back was not the type a horse who will be out-paced puts up. If Stacelita is beaten it will likely have more to do with her regressing in her 2nd start in America or River Jetez simply being better, but I don't know if I'd assume it will be because Stacelita is some plodder who will be outrun early.

Is second off the plane ever a good spot

[MisterB]

She gets the rail, and the shortest way around is a good thing. G1 looms large.

[PatCummings]

The horse I'm most impressed with, having seen every waking moment of his trip outside of the quarantine stable, is Wigmore Hall. This horse couldn't be doing any better, especially compared to what I've heard about his exploits in Singapore.

[Scav]

Originally Posted by PatCummings

The horse I'm most impressed with, having seen every waking moment of his trip outside of the quarantine stable, is Wigmore Hall. This horse couldn't be doing any better, especially compared to what I've heard about his exploits in Singapore.

While I am more impressed with River Jetez, I'll agree with you in that he seems to be really doing well.

Alot of action this morning.

River Jetez was by far the most impressive as she jogged once around and then 'blew out' on the lawn. I caught the last 1/4 in 25 with the dogs out and rider completely still. She looks great.

Wigmore Hall was feeling great this morning and also galloped strong on the lawn with the dogs out.

Newsdad looked unbelievable on the poly today. Galloped without the blinkers (which will be added race day). He is gonna be an auto use on Saturday.

Pachattack's morning was unorthodox as she came on the track with the pony, galloped 9 furlongs on the poly and then went on to the turf course to gallop another 9 furlongs. She is obviously pretty quirky but doing unbelievable. Being here for the whole summer is gonna prove beneficial on Saturday (at least for 2nd place honors)

Gio Ponti came onto the track around 7:15 and stood for about 10 minutes. Jogged once around and was bucking and playing before he left out the mile pole horsepath.

Thought Check the Label and Dubawi Heights looked average at best

Mission Approved jogged around the turf course with good steady energy

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by Scav

I've gone through all three races and I'm against Cape Blanco, Stacelita and Treasure Beach.

I think you're too exact in extrapolating the European running lines of these horses with the way they will likely run here in an American-style race.

Look at the form and running styles of previous Million winners Debussy and Powerscourt. In Europe, both liked to sit up on or near the lead and tended to be one-paced in the latter stages, seemingly without significant "turn of foot". However, in the States, both horses settled off the early pace and made dramatic moves to finish strongly. I expect more of the same, at least from Treasure Beach. Jamie Spencer rode Powerscourt, so he ought to know his way around, but at the same time, he seems brain dead, so it wouldn't be a shock to see him botch the ride on Cape Blanco, with his past success on the lead. Settled off the pace, Cape Blanco would probably be more a terror in this field than he is now.

Another point, whereas Treasure Beach may perhaps prefer 12f (he was handy enough to win at 7f twice as a 2yo though), what American hope really wants the 10f? Don't really see any in the Secretariat. In a cleanly run race, he probably only has the French horse to worry about.

[Scav]

Originally Posted by Scav

I've gone through all three races and I'm against Cape Blanco, Stacelita and Treasure Beach.

Treasure Beach: In my opinion he needs more ground then 10 furlongs and he wants to be near the lead. The Arlington course has played well towards closers recently even into slow fractions and I fully expect him to get 'run off his feet' cause I don't see him being able to quicken.

Cape Blanco: Somewhat of the same opinion in that I truly think he wants more ground and he has zero turn of foot. The Million Pace should be fast, certainly sub 50 with Proceed Bee going to be sent. I am far from a Gio fan, matter fact I tried every which way not to use him, but I really feel this race is gonna be a perfect set up for him at a distance that is as far as he can go.

Stacelita: I think she is pace compromised in this race and I'm fully expecting River Jetez to be sitting 2nd/3rd and get first run. She was a great 3 year old and a good 4 year old but just think that she is gonna want longer distance and a cut in the ground and from all accounts it is gonna be firm on Saturday.

As of right now, for me, the decision that I'll be sleeping on is how to attack the card, blunt force drama (River Jetez / Gio DD which would be paying about $24) or to play the multi-races around it these races.

Stellar performance...Although I'll admit I ended up using Stacelita cause of the softer conditions.

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by Scav

Stellar performance...Although I'll admit I ended up using Stacelita cause of the softer conditions.

Good job Reggie Mush.

[Seattleallstar]

The tri and super paid extremely well for fav 1 and 2..

[my miss storm cat]

Any word on L’Aiglon?

[RolloTomasi]

Useless information:

Ziyarid's last race prior to today was a victory in the Prix Daphnis (a Group 3). I've seen that race for years now in various Euro import PPs. Looked up the race history, and it's a pretty good source of future graded stakes horses in the US.

'84- 1st Palace Music: imported by Allen Paulson, won John Henry, 2nd BC Mile
2nd Seattle Song: won DC International
'86- 1st Thrill Show: won Hollywood Derby and Arcadia for Charlie Whittingham
'91- 2nd Bistro Garden: won Bay Meadows Derby (beat Fraise), 2nd Hollywood Derby
'92- 2nd Rainbow Corner: placed in Eddie Read, John Henry for Bobby Frankel
'93- 3rd Fastness: won Eddie Read 2x, 2nd BC Mile
'94- 2nd Kaldouneeves: 2nd Man O War
'99- 2nd Val Royal: BC Mile, Del Mar Derby, etc.
'00- 3rd Special Ring: won Eddie Read 2x, etc.
'02- 3rd Mineshaft: won JCGC, Woodward, etc.
'03- 2nd Shakis: won Bernard Baruch 2x
'04- 1st Cacique: won Man O War, Manhattan, 2nd Arlington Million
'06- 2nd Champs Elysees: won Canadian Int, HP Turf Cup, placed Big Cap 2x
3rd Hello Sunday: 3rd Pacific Classic
'07- 1st Loup Breton: won San Marcos, etc.