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Invaders for American St Leger get feel for Arlington One of the most intriguing entries of the International Festival of Racing at Arlington on Saturday is that of Eliza Park International's Moment in Time. A daughter of German champion Tiger Hill, the five-year-old mare will face males in the $400,000 American St Leger and brings considerable back-class into the race, including an excellent third in the E.P. Taylor at Woodbine the last time she made a trans-Atlantic trek. "She's lovely and shipped very well -- she's a professional. She has eaten everything," reported Ian Russell, traveling head lad for conditioner David Simcock. "I was here with I'm a Dreamer and it would be nice to do it again." That Simcock-trained mare landed the $750,000 Beverly D. at a price two years ago in what was the Newmarket yard's only other Festival runner. "Today she just did a light canter; it was very routine," Russell said Tuesday morning. "Tomorrow she'll have a proper canter and will probably have a bit of work at the end of the week." Moment in Time is expected to work four or five furlongs in a small blowout Friday to prepare for her long 1 11/16-mile journey on Saturday. The bay Irish-bred comes off a good second in the Chalice Stakes at Newbury over a soft 1 1/2 miles and has taken to marathon races in 2014. Her best performance this year is arguably her fourth-place finish -- beaten only three lengths in a 15-horse field in the Dubai Gold Cup over a flat and good-to-firm two miles. In that race, she sat mid-division before accelerating well, only to be outpaced by longshot winner Certerach and big favorite Cavalryman -- one of the best stayers in the world -- and the well regarded Star Empire. The American St Leger has attracted a complex field filled with more questions than answers. Foremost in the field of pending equine quandaries is the lightly-raced England-based Havana Beat. A lively colt with a personality befitting his name, the Mick and Janice Mariscotti-owned son of European champion juvenile Teofilo enters the race off a favorable victory in the Esher Stakes over 2 1/16 miles at Sandown -- his second win in 12 starts. "He's taking it all in really well; this is the first time he's been more than four hours away from home," said traveling lass and exercise rider Maryann Wall. "I hope he can run against these. Dandino and Moment in Time are nice horses." From the yard of Andrew Balding, who brought Side Glance to finish third at long odds in last year's Arlington Million, the marathon-loving bay has been shadowing his much more traveled aforementioned stablemate, who returned for another run in the Million. The two went out to the Arlington main course Tuesday morning to get their first feel for the local surroundings after clearing quarantine. The seven-year-old passport-stamping professional Side Glance -- who has started in five other countries since his solid Arlington performance -- traveled solo, while Havana Beat was escorted by a pony. "He moved really well today and was in good spirits," Wall explained. "We call him Harvey, for short. Sometimes he can be a bit naughty and you never know when he is going to do it, but he is an athlete and always tries really hard." Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com
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