Arlington Million excuses are usually of the dime a dozen variety but this year there were several runners that had legitimate compromised trips last Saturday at Arlington Park.
Before we get into the controversial journeys, take nothing away from the winner Mondialiste, who didn’t have any Arlington Million excuses in the mile and quarter turf fixture. Mondialiste was bred in Ireland, has trained in England but he sure loves North America. He entered Canada last year and quickly won the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile. The son of Galileo proved it was no fluke with a solid second to Tepin in the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Mile.
The place horse Saturday Kasaqui was a runner that could not overcome his Arlington Million excuses. Bred in Argentina, Kasaqui made his stateside debut on the wrong surface on a synthetic racetrack at Turfway Downs in March. He just could not quicken in time but Kasaqui won his next race when put back on turf and was unlucky when he drew post 12 for his May start in the Grade 1 Turf Classic at Churchill Downs.
Kasaqui showed he belongs with the best around when he was beaten less than a length in his June effort and he took to the Arlington Park turf course like the proverbial duck to water last month. In that race, the Grade 3 Arlington Handicap, Kasaqui got an ideal 3-hole trip and posted a then career best 100 Beyer Speed Figure.
He was not as lucky Saturday. Sitting 5th early about 3 and a half lengths off the lead Kasaqui settled early, came out at the far turn but lacked room behind rivals and then finished with interest to be beaten a neck.
Kasaqui’s rider Robby Albarado thought he may have won the Arlington Million had he been able to find room earlier but eventually Kasaqui ran the race of his life in defeat.
Tryster, the 2nd choice at 4-1 Saturday, had his share of Arlington Million excuses. Tryster came into the Arlington Million having won 9 of his 14 starts but he lost his best chance Saturday before the race even began.
He was reluctant to load into the gate and that is not only unsettling for the horse, but for the rider and the bettors too.
Tryster broke dead last, raced wide and never got untracked.
Only one three-year-old has won the Arlington Million in the history of the showcase so the fact that sophomore Deauville was third despite racing wide, bodes well for his future. Deauville is trained by world-class conditioner Aidan O’Bryan and he will live to race another day.
Before it is said and done, Greengrassofyoming could be ‘Claim of the Year’ material. He was claimed by Mike Maker in late June and immediately won his next start in the Stars N Stripes at Arlington. His Arlington Million excuses include the fact he had to race between horses and then he was hung out to dry racing 7 wide.
The final horse with trouble on Saturday was the defending champion, The Pizza Man, who does his best runner in the stretch. And the trouble was not all about him getting a bad trip, although he did have to race 8 wide.
Last year when The Pizza Man won the Arlington Million the pace was very hot and that suited him. The fractions for the Arlington Million last year were :46.75 for the half mile, 1:10.84 for three quarters of a mile, and 1:36.48 for the mile.
Last Saturday The Pizza Man lost his best shot at repeating when the pace was :49.75 for the half mile, 1:14.14 for three quarters, and 1:38.21 for the mile. With fractions that slow, a runner like The Pizza Man, who is speed challenged and needs a contested pace to thrive, basically had no shot.
Granted, The Pizza Man may not be the same horse he was last year, but he was finished when the splits Saturday were of the pedestrian mode.
As for Mondialiste, by winning the Arlington Million he earned an automatic berth in the mile and a half Breeders’ Cup Turf but the feeling is that Mondialiste will instead opt for Breeders’ Cup Mile.
Mondialiste is trained by David O’Meara, a 39-year-old emerging star trainer and he will make sure that Mondialiste is spotted for action next time.
