Hardest Core heads back to Pennsylvania 'happy'

Andrew Bentley Stables' Hardest Core has exited the effort of his life in

fine form, according to trainer Eddie Graham. The son of Hard Spun left

Arlington Park early

Sunday morning to head back to his Mid-Atlantic base after beating five

Group/Grade 1 winners to win the majority of the Arlington Million XXXII purse.

"He cooled out great," Graham reported. "He ate up and he's happy. That's a

great thing.

"Arlington seems like a big galloping course," Graham reflected. "It didn't

stop his momentum and he really liked it out there. He's a very straightforward

horse. He'll let you know how he's doing just by how he acts. We all joke and

call him the big strong beast."

The bay gelding had to close his final quarter in about :23 2/5 for his

connections in order to run down favored Breeders' Cup Turf winner Magician in

the final yards.

"When he ran at Delaware Park (in the Cape Henlopen Stakes), he ran his last

half-mile in 47 flat and he wasn't even being asked," Graham noted. "He just has

done everything right. We knew he was training well even if he was going up in

class. All he knew (going in) was that he had won three in a row; he didn't know

about the field and he ran his race."

Being a Breeders' Cup

Challenge Win & You're In event for the Turf, the Million opens some appealing

doors for Hardest Core.

After winning the Stars and Stripes five weeks prior as a prep wire-to-wire, the Illinois-bred

champion was able to sit off a stiff pace set by California invader Big Kick

before sensing that horse's fatigue and pouncing with aplomb en route to

victory.

"We didn't have a plan of where to be -- we just let the race

unfold and let him run his race and relax," Brueggemann explained. "He did

the rest."

Winning such a marathon race over a

strong European contingent opens interesting possibilities for the local hero.

Obvious spots include the Northern Dancer Turf at Woodbine over 12 furlongs

or the Kentucky Turf Cup, both on the second weekend in September.

"We'll just see how things play out,"

Brueggemann said. "We'll find something for him, but we'll just have to

see where we can take him."

Team Valor International's $750,000 Beverly D. winner Euro Charline has exited her victory over her elders

in good order, according to the International Racing Bureau. The daughter

of Myboycharlie is scheduled to leave the care of Marco Botti and embark on a

career in America for trainer Todd Pletcher.