Arlington Million

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

A stellar field of nine will go 1 1/4 miles over the Arlington Park turf in

the signature race of the meet, the $1 million Arlington Million (G1). This

field is high class throughout and nearly impossible to decipher, so we'll stick

to a runner with whom we are very familiar.

Multiple Grade 1 hero EINSTEIN (Brz) (Spend a Buck) has ascended to the top

of multiple divisions this year for Helen Pitts-Blasi, and the ultra-versatile dark

bay could jump back into the running for Horse of the Year with a score

in this race. The seven-year-old received a favorable hedge draw with Julien Leparoux,

which should allow him to receive a perfect, ground-saving trip in second or

third, and the powerfully-built horse loves to finish, registering a

106 BRIS Late Pace rating in his last effort. It's hard to bet against the classy sort.

GIO PONTI (Tale of the Cat) has run off a trio of Grade 1 wins in succession

for conditioner Christophe Clement, and the four-year-old has been very

impressive from a visual standpoint on each occasion. His BRIS numbers are also

excellent this season, as he's earned Speed figures of 106 and 105 with a 117 Late Pace

rating to his credit. The Kentucky-bred bay can

handle any kind of ground and virtually any distance with equal brilliance, and

he seems poised to make another strong showing against these. Ramon Dominguez

will ride the morning-line choice.

CIMA DE TRIOMPHE (Ire) (Galileo [Ire]) looks like the top import to us for

Luca Cumani, and he's another contender who we will use in this

outstanding race. A Group 3 victor over Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) star

Conduit (Ire) (Dalakhani) two prior, the improving four-year-old wasn't so fortunate in the

Eclipse S. (Eng-G1) at Sandown Park last out, but he gets a pass as nothing in this cast

would have challenged that exquisite bunch. Christophe Lemaire ships in to pilot

the gray, who has a winning chance with his best.

Singapore Airlines International Cup (Mal-G1) star GLORIA DE CAMPEAO (Brz) (Impression) was second

in the Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) prior to his fine win in Singapore last time, and the bay

makes a lot of sense for quality conditioner Pascal Bary. The six-year-old has

kept top company for much of his career with useful results and we will use

this one in our exotics.

PRESIOUS PASSION (Royal Anthem) has gained our respect tenfold following superb

recent efforts for Mary Hartman. We loved his romp in the United Nations

H. (G1) last out, his second consecutive tally in the prestigious event, and the gelded chestnut will almost surely

open up a huge lead in the early stages here. When the field attempts to come to him,

it will be interesting to see whether he kicks back again under Elvis Trujillo. The Florida-bred might be better at

slightly longer distances, and while it might not be wise for us to bet against this one

yet again, we're going to do so. We rate him as a win-or-nothing contender.

JUST AS WELL (A.P. Indy) has come to hand nicely for turf wizard Jonathan

Sheppard, and his last-to-first win in the July 11 Arlington H. (G3)

should not be overlooked. The late-developing six-year-old is essentially a

one-run closer in a field full of class, and while he should get an honest pace

to run at, we're not sure if he can get the job done at this level. Consider for

the bottom of the gimmicks. European import STOTSFOLD (GB) (Barathea [Ire]) is a multiple Group 3 winner

who has faced some of the top runners across the pond over the past two seasons

for trainer Walter Swinburn, so we have to at least consider the import. We

have class concerns with the gelded bay, but he is a solid

performer who is proven at this distance and will have jockey Adam Kirby

along for the ride.

Grade 1 winner MR. SIDNEY (Storm Cat) has done his best work at shorter trips

and on turf with give in it, so we have to take a stand against the Bill Mott

runner. The talented five-year-old has decent tactical speed and impressed

at Churchill most recently, but we'll look elsewhere. RECAPTURETHEGLORY (Cherokee Run) has virtually no chance in this field and

would be an absolute shocker.