Cosmonaut, Tizdejavu headline Million Preview Day at Arlington

Cosmonaut, Tizdejavu headline Million Preview Day at

Arlington

Saturday is Million Preview Day at Arlington Park, with three graded turf

events serving as prep races for the Arlington Million Day extravaganza on

August 9. COSMONAUT (Lemon Drop Kid), the two-time defending champion of the

$200,000

Arlington H. (G3), will attempt to become the first horse ever to win three

editions of the 1 1/4-mile test, the final local tune-up for the Million. In the

$250,000

American Derby (G2), a stepping stone to the Secretariat S. (G1) for

sophomores, TIZDEJAVU (Tiznow) will bid to remain unbeaten on the grass while

tackling 1 3/16 miles for the first time. Distaffers will get their turn in the

$150,000

Modesty H. (G3), where COMMUNIQUE (Smart Strike) will look to solidify her

credentials for the Beverly D. S. (G1) at this 1 3/16-mile trip. These three

morning-line favorites have a common thread in jockey Rene Douglas, the

Arlington supremo who has picked up the mount on each one of them.

Cosmonaut has been installed as the 7-5 morning-line choice to make history

in the 73rd running of the Arlington. When he captured his second straight

edition last year, the gray joined the legendary Round Table (1958-59) as the

only two-time Arlington winners. Since then, Cosmonaut has been competing

honorably at shorter distances. After placing in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1),

Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) and River City H. (G3) last fall, he opened his

six-year-old campaign with a victory in the Tampa Bay S. Last time out, the

Carlos Martin charge just lost by a nose in the one-mile Scottish Monk S. at

Belmont, and he figures to enjoy the added two furlongs here. The 118-pound

highweight looms as the controlling speed.

Only five rivals have stepped up to challenge Cosmonaut, including erstwhile

stablemate STREAM CAT (Black Minnaloushe). Formerly trained by Patrick Biancone,

the dark bay will be making his 2008 bow for new conditioner Rusty Arnold. The

multiple Grade 3 veteran has not raced since last October when he missed by a

neck to the classy Go Between (Point Given) in the Fayette S. (G3) on

Keeneland's Polytrack. DISTORTED REALITY (Distorted Humor), a game winner of the

Academy Award S. at Belmont most recently for Todd Pletcher, and CORRUPT (Belong

to Me), a rallying third in the Opening Verse H. at Churchill Downs, are also

prime contenders.

Tizdejavu ranks as the 2-1 favorite on the morning line for the American

Derby, the middle leg of Arlington's famed Mid-America Triple that concludes

with the Secretariat. The Greg Fox pupil will shoulder the top weight of 126

pounds in the wake of two front-running scores at Churchill. After holding on in

the Crown Royal American Turf S. (G3) from subsequent Colonial Turf Cup S. (G3)

romper Sailor's Cap (Distant View), Tizdejavu rolled to a four-length triumph in

the Jefferson Cup S. (G2). The bay colt will try to mete out the same treatment

to his seven opponents in this spot, his first race outside of Kentucky.

Two American Derby entrants had taken part in the first jewel of the

Mid-America Triple, the Arlington Classic S. PRIME REALESTATE (Prime Timber) was

an eye-catching second, but AMAZING RESULTS (Grand Slam) suffered a frustrating

trip in traffic and wound up eighth. The Team Block homebred bounced back,

however, with a stylish score at the expense of Illinois-breds in the

Springfield S. Two other hopefuls have shipped in from Europe. The Irish-based

GREAT WAR EAGLE (Storm Cat) is coming off a runner-up effort versus older horses

in the Ballycorus S. (Ire-G3), while French invader BLUE EXIT (Pulpit) set the

pace en route to his victory in the Prix Matchem last time out.

Communique, the early choice in the Modesty at 3-1, boasts the best resume in

the 11-distaffer field. The Arnold trainee flashed talent in graded company as a

three-year-old in 2007, and she finally put it all together with a powerful late

rush in the 1 1/2-mile Bewitch S. (G3) at Keeneland this spring. In her latest

venture, Communique cut back in distance for a 1 1/16-mile allowance/optional

claimer and finished a sneakily solid fourth, which should set her up well for

this engagement.

Other threats include BALLYMORE LADY (War Chant) and KISS WITH A TWIST (Lemon

Drop Kid), the respective second- and third-place finishers behind champion

Dreaming of Anna (Rahy) in the Mint Julep H. (G3) at Churchill; BARBETTE (High

Yield), who is exiting a two-length score in the Possibly Perfect S. over the

course; and CIAO (Lear Fan), who has disappointed in both of her starts this

season but has plenty of back class.