Bodog Beat

Chicago's Arlington Park will play host to the prestigious Arlington Million Day. (AP Images)

But racing aficionados won’t overlook some high class international stakes coming up at Chicago’s Arlington Park on Arlington Million Day, Aug. 9. The prestigious Midwest day of racing has traditionally attracted some of Europe’s finest competitors as the overseas season winds down and the lucrative Breeders’ Cup looms larger on the horizon.

No less than 13 top performers from England, Ireland, France and Italy have nominated to this year’s three premiere turf events, the Gr. 1 Arlington Million Handicap for older horses at 1 ¼ miles on the turf, the Gr. 1 Secretariat Stakes for 3-year-olds over the same course and the Gr. 1 Beverly D. Handicap, for the distaff set over 1 3/16 miles of Arlington lawn.

Of the six foreigners nominated, the two biggest European stars named for the Million, Group 1 heroes Mount Nelson and Archipenko have been confirmed as definite for the long journey to Chicago. Both have posted impressive victories over the classic distance of 1 ¼ miles and if they perform to expectations could give the Arlington audience a memorable contest. Also on the Million list is Lord Admiral, winner of the Gr. 2 Jebel Hatta in Dubai during the World Cup meeting in March, Gr. 1 winner Spirit One and the Italian listed stakes winner Sopran Promo.

The Secretariat Stakes has attracted Royal Ascot’s listed Hampton Court Stakes winner Collection, who was impressive when winning over the same distance as the Secretariat and is scheduled to start in the Gr. 2 York Stakes on Saturday against older horses where he will face another Secretariat possible City Leader. The latter is trained by Brian Meehan, conditioner of Red Rocks, who bested Curlin in the Man O’War just two weeks ago.

The talented filly Cicerole, first or second in her last six stakes tries, has the Beverly D. as her target along with Toque de Queda and Bahra, who had a rough trip, finishing up the course in the Gr. 2 Windsor Forest Stakes at Ascot.

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